Flooding causes havoc in region

Play at Old Trafford cricket ground was cancelled for the day

Flooding has caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to North West homes and businesses and delayed drivers in the wettest August on record.

In Lancashire a special school was closed and a pub in Blackburn was flooded for the third time since 2002.

Waterlogging at Old Trafford cricket ground meant there was no play in the match between Lancashire and Kent.

Police in south Manchester closed a section of the M60 motorway because of heavy rain before it was re-opened.

It is estimated the rains have caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage to several businesses in Vine Mill on the Brookside Industrial Estate, Oswaldtwistle.

Cottages flooded

Co-owner Gary Briggs told BBC Radio Lancashire poor drains are to blame for allowing several feet of water to build up in a number of areas.

As well as affecting the Brownhill Arms in Blackburn, nearby cottages were also hit by floods and standing water forced the closure of roads.

The Hillside School for autistic children, in Longridge, near Preston, was forced to close because the kitchen, cellar and other areas were flooded.

The Highways Agency is investigating the flooding of another part of the M60 motorway on Tuesday evening.

During the disruption up two feet of water was left on the anti-clockwise carriageway, forcing the closure of junction 23 in Ashton-under-Lyne, with the carriageway reduced to two lanes.

Police immediately closed the motorway to allow firefighters to pump the water onto neighbouring fields.

Officers said the water covered 300 metres of the road and tailbacks were reported as far back as junction two.