HIGH winds and heavy rain brought damage and disruption to Chorley this week.

Electricity cables were blown down, roads flooded and closed and homes hit by power and water supply cuts.

Emergency services and workmen from United Utilities and Lancashire County Council were called out in the early hours of Tuesday.

Some 25 homes were cut off until around mid-day when winds broke a pole carrying a power line, causing it to hang low on Smithy Lane, Mawdesley, at around 6.30am. The road was closed as workmen replaced the damaged pole.

A water mains burst at the junction of the A581 Southport Road and A49 Wigan Road in Euxton at about the same time resulted in the closure of the A581, with police diverting traffic down Runshaw Lane.

A spokesman for United Utilities said a six inch main was damaged. He commented: "There were some people off initially, but we managed to bring in water from another area."

A large tree was blown down on the A5106 Wigan Lane, about 100 metres from its junction with Jolly Tar Lane, Coppull, and the road had to be closed by police between 1.30am-9.30am on Tuesday.

A Chorley Police spokesman said: "It completely blocked the road. Lancashire County Council came out, chopped it up and removed it."

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