LANCASHIRE taxpayers are being asked for £220,000 to help Rossendale Council cover the costs it incurred because of June's flash floods.

The development and environmental services committee will be told on Monday that Lancashire County Council has been asked to fund unforeseen repairs and drainage work.

The report says many of Rossendale's roads were severely damaged by the flood.

Early action was taken to reinstate the roads and a meeting with the Environment Agency to discuss any possible action or improvements they can take has been held.

Action is also proposed in Crawshawbooth, where villagers again saw water running down the main Burnley Road after problems with the screen at the watercourse in Water Street.

The problem was caused by a blocked trash screen and it is proposed to replace this with a two-stage screen to take out larger debris further upstream before the water gets to the culvert.

Councillors will be asked to note the report and consider the director's conclusions that Rossendale needs to create a suitable land drainage budget, to employ an engineer, formalise a paid emergency call out system, identify a hot-spot flood list for regular inspection and introduce sandbag storage points.