Buildings and gardens were inundated after 45 minutes of torrential rain, with Lostock Hall, Penwortham and Broadgate all badly affected by the downpour, sustaining thousands of pounds of damage.

But some say such flooding could become a regular occurrence if plans to build a barrage across the Ribble for watersports get a green light.

County Coun Tony Pimblett said: "We would have an artificially high river along a flood plain from Penwortham Holme to Fishwick Bottoms. The drains can't take that amount of water."

And Save The Ribble campaigners protesting council proposals for a barrage wrote on their weblog: "Were we glad that the Ribble doesn't have a barrage, keeping the river water at a permanent high level so that the tide never goes out?

"You bet. Today's torrential downpour caused chaos and several flooded streets in Penwortham and Broadgate."

Nicola O'Donnell of Winckley Road, Broadgate, said homes on her street were damaged when river gates stopped flood water draining into the Ribble.

"The water was quickly rising to the level of our doorstep and we were unable to get help. My husband and a neighbour climbed the river wall and, with a broom handle, prized the flood drainage gate open.

"If the river had been at high tide the whole area would have been severely affected," she added.

Flood water was also seen in the Black Bull Lane area of Fulwood, and around Water Lane in Ashton. A United Utilities spokesman said: "We sympathise with the people whose homes were flooded. The sheer volume of water which fell in a short space of time caused the water to back up.

"The water quickly subsided after the downpour, which proves there was no blockage on the sewer network."

The Met Office warned that further heavy storms could hit the area in the lead up to the weekend.