AREAS of Bolton have been flooded as Storm Brian swept into the town.

Heavy rainfall meant roads in the town were flooded on Saturday night.

Bolton Council said it had received 18 calls from residents about flooding in the town and sent teams out to deal with the water.

Flooding is reported across Bolton, including Chorley Old Road, Mayor Street and Old Kiln Lane.

The council's assistant director of community services, Donna Ball, said on Twitter: "I am responding to flood reports from Chorley Old Rd, Beehive, Old Kiln. Crews out and responding."

Residents were advised to stay away from Chorley Old Road because of the flooding.

North West Motorway Police also urged people to drive carefully because of the amount of surface water on the roads. 

However, fire crews across the borough said they received no flooding-related callouts as there were no life-threatening incidents.

Horwich North East councillor Kevin McKeon experienced severe flooding at the junction of Chorley New Road and Claypool Road on Saturday evening, but says the waters have now receded.

He said: "I have been out this morning and didn't notice anything bad.

"When I drove through at about 6pm there were cars going through the water, but very slowly.

"But I had to drive my son to the airport at 4am and it was fine.

"In Horwich, Storm Brian was definitely worse than Storm Ophelia was."

A flood alert was issued by the Environment Agency for the upper River Irwell area.

The alert said: "River levels are rising throughout the Upper River Irwell Catchment and the heavy rainfall is expected to clear in the next two hours."

Areas included in the alert are Oldham, Bolton, Rochdale, Haslingden, Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall. 

Ms Ball advised residents on Twitter that the leaves beginning to drop for autumn has made the problem worse. 

She added at 9.09pm the water was slowly beginning to recede. 

John Hunter on Twitter urged his fellow motorists to take care on the roads. 

Send your pictures of flooding in Bolton to newsdesk@theboltonnews.co.uk