Flood alerts issued for River Irwell as parts of Eccles are hit by rising waters

Parts of Salford are already seeing flooding after heavy rain pushed up the River Irwell, with residents in Eccles and Lower Broughton warned to prepare for further disruption overnight.

Images shared from Eccles show water spilling onto streets, while reports from Charlestown in Lower Broughton confirm rising river levels close to homes. The Environment Agency issued a flood alert for the Lower River Irwell catchment at 5:20pm on Saturday, 20 September.

The alert covers the Rivers Irwell, Irk and Medlock, as well as Wince and Worsley Brooks and their tributaries. Forecast rainfall is expected to push the Irwell to flood thresholds, with the agency warning that flooding of low-lying land and roads is possible.

Residents in affected areas are being urged to act on their flood plans, move valuables to safety and avoid low-lying footpaths and bridges near rivers and streams.

The official stages of warning are:

• Flood alert – flooding is possible, be prepared.
• Flood warning – flooding is expected, immediate action required.
• Severe flood warning – severe flooding, danger to life.
• All clear – when flood waters recede and it is safe to return.

The Environment Agency says and update will be issued by 10am on Sunday, 21 September, or sooner if conditions change.

Floodline is open 24 hours a day for advice on 0345 988 1188, or 0345 602 6340 for textphone users. Maps of the alert area and live river levels can also be viewed on the agency’s website.

Salford City Council is advising residents to follow updates on its X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook pages. In an emergency, call 999. For non-urgent issues, residents can contact Greater Manchester Police on 101, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service on 0800 555 815, or United Utilities on 0345 672 3723 for water problems. Electricity North West can be reached on 105.

The Met Office is also warning of more rainfall across the region overnight, with unsettled weather expected to continue into Sunday.