Weather update: Access to popular Burnley park affected and police cordon erected to keep people back from edge of raging river in Padiham

Announcing the closure on social media, bosses at the garden centre said it was 'regrettable but unfortunately a necessity.'

The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings across Burnley, Padiham and the Ribble Valley today in the wake of Storm Ciara which has raged across Lancashire and parts of the country overnight.

Flood warnings have been issued for the River Calder in Whalley, Earby Beck, Colne Water at Lenches - around Waterside Industrial Estate and Green Road, Green Brook and Sweet Clough at Padiham, River Calder at Padiham,

Specialists believe that the danger, rated highest in Burnley town centre, outlying areas of Colne and Walsden, near Todmorden, will peak around lunchtime today.

A spokesman said: "We urge residents to prepare, remain vigilant and avoid walking and driving through low-lying land or near local watercourses."

In Padiham a police cordon had to be put in place to stop residents going to the edge of the River Calder to take photographs.

Dozens of people parked their vehicles on the fire station car park prompting firefighters to call the police.

A spokesman for Padiham Fire Station said: " Not ony were they risking their own safety by coming to the water's edge they are blocking our exit if the applicances have to be mobilsed to an emergency as we will not have time to wait for people to clear the car park."