Severe weather on New Year's Day sees flooding impact the Greater Manchester area

A major incident was declared in Greater Manchester after extensive rainfall on New Year’s Day led to severe flooding. 

Many people have been displaced with emergency evacuation centres set up to assist those that have been impacted. 

Police and fire services are supporting clean-up operations which are taking place. The worst hit areas include Bolton, Didsbury, Harpurhey, Stalybridge, Stockport and Wigan. 

Emergency services received reports of damage, risk to life and stranded vehicles.  

Many residents have been forced to flee their homes due to fears over their own safety. 

Authorities have been monitoring the affected areas, with evacuation centres now operating in Wigan, Stockport, and Ormskirk, Lancashire. 

Whilst the Environment Agency issued a yellow weather warning for most of the region, some areas around Warrington experienced more dramatic impacts, including the failure of a floodgate and the collapse of an aqueduct on the Bridgewater Canal in Cheshire.

A number of major roads have been impacted. They include the A555 Airport Relief Road in Stockport where several vehicles had to be rescued. 

In an early evening update Chief Superintendent Colette Rose said  "We are continuing to monitor the whole of Greater Manchester as we look to co-ordinate the emergency response involving a variety of services. 

“Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have been key to this, to ensure we can keep those people and communities safe after the severe weather we have had.”