HEAVY rain resulted in traffic chaos in Healey Corner and a playing field in John Street flooded with up to 6ft of water.

Whitworth town clerk Karen Douglas said: "The main road into Whitworth was full of water when I drove in on Wednesday morning and the drains were overflowing.

"St Anselm's football pitch was submerged and John Street, from behind Whitworth Leisure Centre, was flooded."

Mark drains danger away

Delays for rail passengers

Councillor David Chorlton contacted the Environment Agency and said: "The highways department came out first thing and were very good.

"They tried to pump out the water but the river was so high there was nowhere for it to go."

John Cunningham, headteacher of Our Lady and St Anselm's Primary School said: "The road from Healey Corner into Whitworth was horrendous at 8am.

"The rain had washed all sorts into the road. It was messy for the children getting into school, trying to avoid the puddles, but we coped."

A 15-foot wall in Market Street collapsed as a result of the flood.

There was more flooding misery in Littleborough. Four homes in Calder Avenue were under water again following Wednesday morning's downpour.

Residents on the street have been fighting an eight-year battle to have drainage in the area improved.

They say a problem with a pipe to the rear of their properties means their gardens - and occasionally homes - flood after heavy rain.

Haydn Bamford, who says his garden has flooded 'hundreds' of times in the last 10 years, said: "My wife has been crying all morning and I feel terrible. We have just got back on our feet after the last flood.

"The council are not doing their job. They have been told time and time again what needs to happen, but they keep going for the cheaper option."

Council workmen fitted a relief pipe about three months ago. But residents say it has not not made any difference.

Councillor Peter Evans has been campaigning on behalf of the residents. He said: "It was absolute bedlam on Calder Avenue. Carpets, floors, sofas, everything was ruined.

"I am disgusted with the local authority. All they have done is a lot of cosmetic work which has achieved no practical purpose. The problems are getting worse.

Donald Forrester, head of highways and engineering said: "We have been trying to find a way to reduce the risk of flooding at Calder Avenue for some time. Recently we spent £100 000 on new pipe work to help. This was not able to deal with the exceptionally heavy rainfall on Tuesday night so we will need to review what further measures might be possible and how they might be paid for."