Multiple flood alerts have been issued across Greater Manchester this afternoon after the region was battered by torrential rain.
An alert is currently in place for the Lower River Irwell catchment which covers a large area of Salford as well as Manchester city centre, Tameside and Oldham.
A second alert is in place covering parts of Wigan and Bolton due to rising water level at the River Douglas. The alert means flooding is possible and warns residents to prepare.
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Local residents are being advised to avoid low lying footpaths or entering areas prone to flooding. Homeowners are urged to put a flood plan into action if they have one.
The whole flood alert area covers the River Douglas from Horwich Star Vale to Appley Bridge including Adlington, Blackrod, Wigan, Standish and Gathurst.
It comes amid chaos on the region's roads with long delays on parts of the motorway network due to flooding. TfGM warned of travel disruption this morning as a Met Office yellow weather warning for heavy rain remains in place all day until 8pm.
The warning covers all of our region, as well as parts of Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire. Forecasters predict that persistent, heavy downpours today could lead to flooding 'of a few homes and businesses'. Travel disruption is expected, with spray and flooding the roads likely.
Maximum temperatures of around 12C are expected. The Met Office said: "Outbreaks of rain will spread across England and Wales during Tuesday. This will be heaviest and most persistent across parts of northwest England, particularly over higher ground.
"Rainfall totals of 60-80 mm could accumulate over parts of Cumbria." A number of flood alerts and warning have been issued elsewhere across the country.
The Environment Agency Flood Warning System has automatically issued the latest alert based on rising river levels due to industrial action being staged by staff.
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