FLOOD CHAOS: Popular event cancelled as storm batters villages

Organisers of Longridge’s annual Boxing Day pram race decided to cancel this year’s event after homes were excavated has heavy rains batter the region.

Posting on Facebook this morning, organisers said: “Unfortunately due to the horrific weather conditions and the various road closures and evacuations in the surrounding villages, and after taking advice from the relevant services, we have concluded for everybody’s safety to cancel today’s Boxing Day Pram Race.”

There are currently seven severe warnings, meaning widespread flooding is expected, in place for locations on the River Ribble at Ribchester, the River Wyre at St Michael’s North and St Michael’s South, and the River Calder at Whalley, where people are already being evacuated.

An evacuation centre has been set up at Longridge Civic Hall, Willow Park Lane, Calder Avenue, Longridge.

The Army has been brought in to assist the fire service, police and Lancashire County Council with evacuations after the River Calder burst its banks in Whalley.

The Met Office has also issued a red rain warning for Lancashire as prolonged heavy rain is expected to last for much of Boxing Day.