These blocked drains at the junction of County Road, Green Lane and Hayfield Road tell their own sad story on the low level of maintenance carried out by LCC.

Despite effusive press releases from the LCC pr office County council on flood alert qlocal.co.uk the reality is that there are dozens of drains in and around Ormskirk which are ineffective; cue this story on QLocal this weekend about the enterprising Aughton couple who did their own DIY on drains off Long Lane: Aughton couple dig deep to do the county council's work (qlocal.co.uk)

Further afield, these were the flood warnings issued yesterday by the Environment Agency:

Lower River Douglas

Flooding is expected from 1.30pm today until 1.30pm tomorrow. Flooding is expected to affect low lying land and roads in Parbold, Rufford, Mawdesley, Croston, Bretherton, Tarleton and Hesketh Bank areas. High river levels are possible on the Rivers Douglas and Tawd, Eller Brook, Whams Ditch, River Yarrow, Wymott Brook including their tributaries and other smaller watercourses.

Upper River Douglas

Flooding is expected from 4.30pm today until 4.30pm tomorrow. Flooding is expected to affect low lying land as roads in Horwich, Adlington, Wigan, Appley Bridge and Skelmersdale. High river levels are possible on the River Douglas, Pearl Brook, River Tawd, Eller Brook and their tributaries.