A FLOOD warning for Bessy Brook in Lostock has been lifted but authorities are still monitoring other areas as river levels rise.

At 1pm today the Environment Agency warned residents that a sustained period of heavy rain had caused the brook to rise above safe levels.

This soon subsided and Bessy Brook is no longer at immediate risk of causing a flood.

However, a spokesman for the Environment Agency said they would have to continue monitoring the situation with further rainfall forecast later today.

The Met Office has predicted periods of rain throughout the evening beginning around 5pm and continuing until mid-morning on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Bolton Council says it is keeping an eye on the level of the River Croal in Farnworth, which has steadily been rising all morning.

The level of water in that area has risen rapidly from 24cm to 80cm above the riverbed between 1.30am and 2.30pm today.

Environment Agency experts warn that flooding is possible if increase continue and the level reaches 1m.

In addition, other parts of the river around Little Lever, the town centre and Edgworth are all being monitored.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "Our incident response staff are closely monitoring weather forecasts and river levels and will issue further updates as necessary.

"Please avoid using low lying footpaths near local watercourses. This message will be updated as the situation changes."