PRESTON was wracked by storms over the weekend, with many parts of the town still left waterlogged days later.

And properties surrounding the River Ribble, running through the heart of the town, were soaked after the water burst its banks.

One pub in Walton-le-Dale was surrounded with flood water. Gavin Preston, manager of the Shawes Arms in London Road, was thankful the rain stopped, but said if it had carried on he would have been left under water.

He said: "The flooding was high, but luckily it didn't affected the pub. We didn't flood because we're just that little bit higher."

The Shawes Arms attracts customers from the nearby football pitches which were completely cut off by the water. Gavin said: "It's affected my trade because of the football pitches and the changing rooms being flooded."

The floods came half way through an Environment Agency project to protect the area from flood waters by building flood protection -- but the barriers on Gavin's side are not finished.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: "The Walton-le-Dale flood elevation scheme started in 2000 at a cost of £2 million. The proposed scheme aims to improve four main areas -- Frenchwood, The flats, Walton Green and isolated properties in the area."

The work is due to be finished this year. Gavin said: "They're starting work on the barriers on my side, in April this year. The barriers on the other side have done their job, but they aren't built on my side.

"I'm looking forward to it. It should protect me."

The Environment Agency added: "The area is in high pressure at the moment, so there should be no problems for the foreseeable future."

For information ring the Floodline on 0845 9881188.