WILD WEATHER: Foamy roads as Storm Abigail arrives

Gale force winds and heavy rain in Blackpool on Friday

Coastal parts were today warned to expect more flooding with more heavy rain expected to fall on already saturated ground.

Flood warnings were issued between Fleetwood and Blackpool and on the Wyre Estuary.

Wyre Council said the flood gates at Cleveleys will be closed until at least 2pm on Saturday.

The Environment Agency warned that Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, and North and West Yorkshire are the areas most at risk from significant river and localised surface water flooding on Saturday evening and into Sunday.

The flood risk comes as heavy, persistent rain is set to affect parts of northern England, with a month’s rain potentially falling on localised high ground on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, following days of wet and windy weather, the agency said.

Craig Woolhouse, the Environment Agency’s director of incident management, said: “River levels across northern England are already high and are expected to rise with this further heavy rainfall, bringing with them a significant risk of flooding.

“We are working closely with the emergency services and partners to prepare ahead of the weekend.

“Our teams are already in action clearing watercourses, maintaining existing defences and standing ready to deploy temporary pumps and defences where these can be effective.”

The Environment Agency is also urging people to check for flood risks, and not to drive through flood water, warning that 1ft (30cm) of water is enough to move a car.

The Met Office has issued a yellow “be aware” weather warning centred on North Wales, north west England and south west Scotland over the weekend as a slow-moving front brings heavy and persistent rain.

Many areas covered by the warning are likely to see 2.8-3.9in (70-100mm) of rain, while some more exposed parts of North Wales and north west England could see as much as 5.9-7.9in (150-200mm).

Such heavy rain on already saturated ground is likely to lead to flooding from standing water or from rivers bursting their banks, the Met Office warns.