BOLTON was buffeted by blizzards as Britain went on storm alert - then the great mopping up operation began in the afternoon.

Commuters heading home should experience less problems than they suffered during the big disruptions today.

Overnight torrential rain caused widespread flooding in the area and snow caused massive tailbacks during the morning rush hour.

One school was closed because of the flooding of a nearby road.

Emergency services worked flat out to try to deal with the hundreds of calls -- and the fire brigade even brought in their special rescue boat after reports of a car trapped at Smithills.

Blackspots included Bradshaw, Horwich, Chorley New Road, Barrow Bridge, Smithills, Farnworth and The Hough.

In the afternoon it was reported that most flooded areas had been cleared-up, but tailbacks were still a problem in Horwich and Westhoughton where some roads were closed.

The only relatively dry route out of Horwich remained Crown Lane, with areas such as the Beehive roundabout and Mason Street/Vale Lane and New Chapel Lane still heavily water-logged.

The fire brigade was inundated with calls from both residents and businesses asking for help in the mop-up operation.

Firefighters have also been busy because the heavy rain triggered lines in dozens of fire alarms in businesses across the town.

Earlier, many drivers abandoned their vehicles on their way into Bolton creating even more obstacles for those commuters determined to reach the town centre.

Gale force winds wreaked havoc for council workers rushing to clear a Farnworth road blocked by a tree.

The wind and rain split the tree in two in Daffodil Road and part of it crashed into the road, missing a parked Ford Escort by inches.

Dawn Bethell, whose car was almost hit, said: "I couldn't believe it this morning when I got up and saw the tree in the road. It was totally blocking the road and nobody could drive past it.

"But the council workers got here very quickly and have moved the tree with hydraulic lifting equipment. "

Residents of Barrow Bridge Road, Barrow Bridge, face a costly clean-up operation after their cars and houses were badly flooded.

John Mckenna found his four-wheel drive jeep submerged in water and helped a neighbour who had set-off in his car, but could only drive a few yards along the road before becoming stuck.

Mr Mckenna said: "We really are swimming in water and there is no way my wife and I will be going to work today.

"The man whose car got stuck in the middle of the road was just floating around in water.

"Our carpets are ruined and it will take a lot of time to clear-up."

Across the town traffic police were called out to help pull abandoned vehicles from deep flood water.

They closed off Smithills Dean Road this morning after a huge flood at the bottom of the road near Moss Bank Way.

As rush hour traffic built-up, officers pulled a stranded Vauxhall Astra car from Bury New Road, while colleagues were called to Moss Bank Way to clear a Volkswagen Golf car which was blocking the carriageway.

In Vale Avenue, Horwich, one householder awoke to the sound of water lapping in her cellar.

Miss Colette Grant said: "The water is about five feet deep and everytime traffic goes past, it is sending waves into the cellars. It has reached the top of the steps and I am having to take all my furniture and possessions upstairs.

"This happens every year yet nothing is every done."

Dozens of callers swamped police operators, with officers being called to Smithills Dean Road to close the carriageway which had also been hit with floodwater.

The Beehive roundabout, at the junction of Chorley New Road and De Havilland Way, was reportedly under two feet of water early today.

At 7.30am, police officers were called to Raimond Street, Halliwell, after a tree crashed onto two cars as gale force winds buffeted the town.

Bradshaw was one of the worst hit areas with many motorists having to abandon their vehicles after getting caught out at Bradshaw Brow. Traffic was nose to tail as drivers tried to pass the floods.

Motorists in Horwich had to leave their cars after they became stranded in flooding on Winter Hey Lane.

Traffic on Chorley New Road also became stuck in tailbacks up to and past the Bee Hive roundabout and a similar situation was reported on the Chorley Old Road approach into Bolton.

Floodwater up to car bumper level caused congestion in Mort Lane -- the main route from Little Hulton and Tyldesley.

Traffic was brought to a standstill in Mosley Common Road between Tyldesley and Boothstown because of flooding at Parr Bridge.

Vehicles slowed to a crawl with water a foot deep between Atherton and Leigh near the Old Hall Mill Lane/Leigh Road junction, with more problems in Gloucester Street, Atherton and at Bickershaw.

A spokesman for North West Water said: "The rain has been incessant and the storm drains could not cope with the extraordinary conditions."