Cars become stuck in flood water

Several cars have become stuck after a Greater Manchester road became flooded under 3ft (0.9m) of water.

Police asked drivers to avoid the A58 Bolton Road at Bamfurlong near Wigan, on Friday afternoon.

Shops and houses on Eleanor Street, near the banks of the River Douglas, were evacuated as a precautionary measure at about 1400 BST.

Residents affected were being offered shelter at the Today Church on Pottery Road in Wigan.

The Greater Manchester Fire Service received numerous calls from people affected by floods in the Offerton and Davenport areas of Stockport and in Wigan on Friday morning.

Floodwatch in place

But the brigade said it would only pump water from flooded properties when water threatened electrical supplies.

The A6 in the Hindley area of Wigan is also flooded and there is water lying on many other roads in the area.

The Environment Agency say floodwatches are in force in the catchment areas of the Rivers Irwell and Mersey.

People living near the Rivers Sankey, Glaze and Ditton Brook in Greater Manchester are at risk, as well as those on the Cheshire and Derbyshire borders.

The Met Office expect the wet weather conditions to continue throughout Friday afternoon.