A FLOOD warning has been issued for parts of East Lancashire.

A warning has been issued for Colne Water at Lenches, near the Waterside Industrial Estate and Green Road.

Flood alerts are also in place for large areas of Colne, Nelson, Brierfield, Burnley, Padiham, Whalley, Clayton le Moors, Altham and Accrington, as well as Haslingden, Helmshore, Rawtenstall, Edenfield and Bacup.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "River levels are forecast to rise at the Carry Bridge river gauge as a result of persistent heavy rainfall.

"Consequently, flooding of property/roads and farmland is expected/possible to begin between at noon today and 2am tomorrow.

"Commercial premises in Waterside Industrial Estate and Green Road might be affected.

"Further rainfall is forecast over the next 14 hours.

"We expect river levels to remain high until 6am on Friday.

"We are closely monitoring the situation.

"Our incident response staff are clearing weed screens and checking defences.

"Please move possession and valuables off the ground or to safety and avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses.

"This message will be updated this evening or as the situation changes."