Flooding and bad weather causing chaos on roads

Fraser Smith, crew manager of Wesham fire station tweeted this picture of trapped cars

Roads have been closed in Morecambe, cars have been stranded in Lancaster and Butler Street in Preston city centre is also shut.

Lancashire fire and rescue services have been called out to rescue drivers on Hazelrigg Lane, Lancaster, and Lancaster Road, Morecambe has been closed.

Earlier Lancashire Road Police tweeted: "Please be aware there is a road closure on at Butler Street Preston as you turn left off Corporation Street and Fishergate due to the severe flooding we are experiencing. Drivers are being requested to try and find an alternative route and avoid town centre where possible."

Adding to the problems in the area, 800 commuters are being transferred on to rail replacement buses and drivers are being told to avoid the area.

The road police unit added: "Please avoid Butler St and Preston railway station for the next couple of hours. There is severe congestion due to 800 railway passengers having to transfer from trains on to coaches. We are deploying officers to assist in getting the coaches in and out as smoothly as possible."

Lancashire fire service said two fire engines from Lancaster and the boat from Penwortham were called to reports of a person trapped in their car in flood water on Hazelrigg Lane, Lancaster just before 3pm today. Firefighters managed to release the person from their car and they were handed over to paramedics.

Floods and standing water have also been reported on the M6 between junctions 32 and 34 and the M57 near Knowsley safari park.

Heavy rainfall has led to water levels rising through the Environment Agency's warning threshold.

Flood warnings are now in force for Burrow Beck at Lancaster, bordering the river from Canterbury Ave to Scotforth Rd.

Properties on Lentworth Drive, Whinfell Drive, Beechwood Gardens, off Cranwell Avenue, Hodder Place, Cork Road, Canterbury Avenue are likely to be affected and residents are advised to be prepared.

Heavy rainfall is forecast to continue through this evening and into Thursday morning.