STRONG winds and heavy rain have caused damage to schools and other buildings in Bolton.

Firefighters were called to reports of flooding at St Catherine's Academy in Harwood, to find that the fourth floor of the school, as well as the lift shaft, had become flooded.

The school is counting the cost of the damage after water poured in through the wall of an electric room into the fourth floor space, said to be part of its sports centre.

A fire crew from Bolton Central who attended the incident, at about 10.30pm last night, said the water was about three or four inches deep.

The high winds also caused a large proportion of the roof of Bradshaw Conservative Club to be damaged, after a tree fell and collided with the building at about 12.50am this morning.

A fire service spokesman said no rescue activity had to be carried out, and that officers provided advice to representatives of the club, in Lea Gate, about calling in someone to deal with the damage.

The wind also caused a chimney to be blown over at a house in Hughes Street, Halliwell, with the fire service attending at about 12.30 this morning.

The debris has since been removed, and officers used an aerial platform to remove the roof stack, as it was deemed a danger.