Bolton residents are being told to take care and avoid walking, cycling or driving through flood water following heavy rain.

A flood alert remains in place for parts of Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, and Oldham boroughs in the Upper River Irwell catchment following heavy rain on Monday, September 30, which saw a yellow weather warning in place.

Now, the Environment Agency’s flood checking service is still warning that flooding could be possible – with an update due this afternoon.

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The warning states: “Flooding is forecast to affect locations near the River Irwell, with low lying land and roads expected to be most affected, particularly around low lying land and roads around the Rivers Beal, Roch and Croal, Limy Water and their tributaries.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and monitoring rainfall and river levels.

“Take care and avoid walking, cycling or driving through flood water.”

On Monday, localised flooding caused chaos on Bolton’s roads, with several crashes also reported throughout a day of bad weather.

According to Environment Agency data, water levels at the River Croal in Farnworth reached 0.87m at 6pm yesterday - still within the normal range of one metre, and well below the high of 1.41m reported after severe flooding on Boxing Day in 2015. The height of the water is now falling.

The River Irwell at Kearsley is also falling after reaching 3.36m at 7.30pm yesterday. As of 8.00am, the water is reported to be at 1.60m. On Boxing Day 2015, the highest level recorded at this measuring station was 6.33m.

Property flooding is said to be possible at the Kearsley site when water levels reach 4.35m.

Water levels are falling at local monitoring stationsWater levels are falling at local monitoring stations (Image: Environment Agency)

A yellow rain warning is no longer in force for Greater Manchester, though parts of the east of England, including Leicester, Peterborough, Milton Keynes, and Cambridge, are still under a yellow warning.

In Bolton, the Met Office says to expect ‘a drier and more settled spell of weather’ over the next five days, with some light rain forecast this morning (Tuesday, October 1), changing to overcast in the afternoon.

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On Wednesday, the weather should turn drier – with sunny intervals forecast throughout the day.

The weather then turns sunnier on Thursday, October 3, with sun throughout the day. The next spot of rain is then forecast for Saturday night, with the Met Office currently predicting drizzle.

Temperatures throughout the week are forecast for highs in the mid-teens, at around 15°C and 16°C.

Lows are forecast to remain around 7°C and 8°C during the week, rising to 10°C on the weekend.

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Bolton. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk.