Storm Franklin LIVE: Latest updates as very strong winds hit Preston, Blackpool, Burnley, Lancaster and across Lancashire on Monday
and live on Freeview channel 276
The yellow warning for strong wind, which came into force on Sunday at 12pm and covers the entire county, is in place until 1pm on Monday.
We'll be keeping you up-to-date with all the latest from across Lancashire:
Storm Franklin - live updates as string winds batter Lancashire
Fire five engines tackled M6 lorry blaze
Five fire engines from Lancashire and Greater Manchester were called to the M6 near Chorley after a lorry was blown into a bridge and its trailer caught fire this morning.
By 7am, the fire had been extinguished using four breathing apparatus and three hose reels and the M6 southbound was reopened.
The lorry driver managed to escape after being rescued from his cab by other motorists.
He was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to hospital by ambulance for assessment.
The northbound M6 remains closed between Standish and Leyland as of 9.34am.
M6 closure update
As of 9.29am, the northbound between Standish (J27) and Leyland (J28) remains closed.
The southbound carriageway is currently open.
Picture shows shocking lorry blaze which shut M6 this morning
Fire crews can be seen tackling the fire, with the lorry nearly destroyed by the blaze.
Police said strong winds caused a lorry to hit a motorway bridge before ‘bursting into flames’.
Fortunately, the driver managed to escape from the cab with help from other motorists and is now being assessed at hospital.
The northbound M6 remains closed between Leyland and Standish, with approximately 5 miles of queueing traffic back to junction 26 (M58, Orrell Interchange).
The northbound entry slip road at junction J27 in Standish is also currently closed to prevent traffic joining the motorway, with drivers diverted through Euxton.
- Exit the M6 northbound at J27.
- At the M6 J27/ A5209 roundabout, join the A5209 eastbound.
- At the A5209/A49 junction, turn left onto the A49 northbound.
- At the A49/A581 junction, turn right onto the A581 eastbound.
- At the A581/B5252 roundabout, join the B5252 northbound.
- At the B5252/Euxton Lane roundabout, join Euxton lane westbound.
- At the Euxton Lane/Central Drive junction, follow Central Drive northbound.
- At Central Drive/B5248 junction follow B5248 westbound.
- At the B5248/A49 junction, turn right onto the A49 northbound.
- At the A49/B5256 junction, turn left onto the B5256 westbound.
- At the B5256/M6 J28, re-join the M6 northbound.
UCLan UCU picket lines called off due to Storm Franklin
Storm Franklin has meant picket lines are standing down
Today, (Monday 21 Feb) staff at the University of Central Lancashire have started a 5 day walk out, but their picket lines have had to be called off due to severe weather conditions.
In disputes over pay and working conditions, UCU members at the university are holding walk outs on February 21, February 22, February 28, March 1 and March 2.
However today's picket lines, originally to be held on Adelphi Square on their Preston campus, have had to be called off due to Storm Franklin.
Family pay tribute to Chorley dad-of-two, 33, who died after a crash at the weekend
The family of a Chorley dad who died after a crash at the weekend have paid tribute to him, saying he was "a funny and loving person who would do anything for anyone".
Christopher Bowker, 33, was the driver of a Seat Ibiza which crashed on the A666 in Darwen shortly before 8am on Saturday (February 19).
Emergency services were called to the scene in Blackburn Road and Christopher was taken to hospital with critical injuries.
He was sadly pronounced dead a short time later.
Police believe he lost control of his car and veered into the opposite carriageway, colliding with an oncoming Mitsubishi Outlander.
In a tribute, his heartbroken family said: “Christopher was a funny and loving person. He was so caring and would do anything for anyone. He leaves behind a son and daughter.
“Our family is understandably shattered. Life will never be the same again.”
M6 diversions as motorway remains shut between Standish and Leyland
The M6 is closed northbound between Standish (J27) and Leyland (J28) whilst emergency services tackle a lorry fire.
Drivers are being diverted off the motorway at Standish and along Wigan Road through Euxton to rejoin the M6 at junction 28 in Leyland.
This is the Diversion Route
Drivers are advised to follow the Hollow Diamond diversion symbol on road signs
- Exit the M6 northbound at J27 in Standish
- At the M6 J27/ A5209 roundabout, join the A5209 eastbound
- At the A5209/A49 junction, turn left onto the A49 northbound
- At the A49/A581 junction, turn right onto the A581 eastbound
- At the A581/B5252 roundabout, join the B5252 northbound
- At the B5252/Euxton Lane roundabout, join Euxton lane westbound
- At the Euxton Lane/Central Drive junction, follow Central Drive northbound
- At Central Drive/B5248 junction follow B5248 westbound
- At the B5248/A49 junction, turn right onto the A49 northbound
- At the A49/B5256 junction, turn left onto the B5256 westbound
- At the B5256/M6 J28, re-join the M6 northbound
There are a number of flood warnings in place this morning
Lower River Lune and Conder
River levels are high but steady on the River Lune; River Conder due to heavy rainfall. Areas most at risk include River Lune, Conder and Keer and other watercourses from Kirkby Lonsdale to Galgate including Gressingham, Carnforth, Hornby, Wray, Bentham and Lancaster.
Upper River Ribble, Hodder
River levels are high on the River Ribble, River Hodder due to heavy rainfall. Areas most at risk include Rivers Ribble, Hodder and other watercourses, from Settle to Samlesbury including Clitheroe, Gisburn, Sawley, Waddington and Ribchester.
River Calder in east Lancashire
River levels are high on the River Calder due to heavy rainfall. Areas most at risk include Rivers Calder, Brun, Don and Pendlewater, from Laneshaw Bridge to the river Ribble including Trawden, Burnley, Nelson, Colne, Accrington and Whalley.
Lower River Ribble and Darwen
River levels are high on the River Ribble and River Darwen due to heavy rainfall. Areas most at risk include River Ribble from Samlesbury and the River Darwen from Darwen including Blackburn, Preston, Walton-Le-Dale, Pleasington and Higher Walton.
River Lostock and River Yarrow
River levels are high on the River Lostock and River Yarrow.
Lower River Douglas
River levels are high on the River Douglas.