A SCHOOL was forced to close its doors after becoming awash with several inches of water as East Lancashire was deluged by floods.

Staff at St John Fisher and Thomas More High School in Colne, were today beginning a major mopping-up operation after the flooding left one of the main corridors in the 760-pupil Roman Catholic school impassable and the boiler room under several feet of water.

Villages across East Lancashire were also flooded to a depth of 5ft when the River Ribble burst its banks after heavy rain early today and a driver had to be rescued by firefighters after his Mercedes became submerged as he tried to cross a bridge in Sawley Road, Sawley.

There was also flooding in Main Street, Bolton-by-Bowland, which left the post office and Coach and Horses pub, along with many homes under three feet of water.

Pupils at the school in Gib Field Road, were told of the closure before arriving at school for the day. Staff phoned round and told them not to come in.

Sanderson's Dance Studios in Nelson offered a day of free dance and fitness classes to any pupils affected by the closure.

Headteacher Brendan Conboy said the priority for the school would be to clean-up the flooding so the school could re-open on Monday in preparation for the GCSE results out next week.

"We will be cleaning up through the day and over the weekend. to be ready for next week's results. This has not come at a good time.

"It's too early to day what the damage will be, but I'm sure the floor of the drama studio, which was worst hit, will be affected.

"The main concern are the boilers because the water was almost up to the firing mechanisms. There may also be problems with the electrics as the boiler room houses all the circuit boards. That really left me with no option but to close the school for the day."

"The corridor is also one of the main access points from one side of the school to the other."

"The flooding happened from 6am today, but by 8.30am the problems were subsiding.

Weather forecasters said heavy rain was due to ease to be replaced by drier spells.