The alert was issued by the Environment Agency for the River Irwell Catchment Area, which includes the Irwell itself and its network of tributary rivers. Large areas of flooding around the River Irwell and River Roch in Radcliffe are being shown on the Environment Agency's map, as well as further up the Irwell in Ramsbottom, and on through Rawtenstall. The Environment Agency issued this update: "Forecast rainfall indicates river levels could reach flood thresholds overnight. "Flooding is forecast to affect locations near the River Irwell. Now, trains between Bolton and Blackburn have been cancelled following flooding.