THE Environment Agency has visited flood-hit areas of Bury and Radcliffe to hear the first-hand accounts of residents.

Chairwoman of the EA, Emma Howard Boyd, visited the Warth area and Morris Street, and then met with people in Radcliffe.

Close Park in Radcliffe remains waterlogged after the River Irwell burst its banks on Sunday. The first phase of a £40 million flood defence scheme is currently under construction in the park.

Colette Jones, chairwoman of the Radcliffe and Redvales Flood Action Group, said: "Sunday was a case of déjà vu. It feels like it will never end.

"The defences protected us on Sunday. I always thought that once they were in, we could sleep easy, but when you see 4m of water building up behind them, you worry that they won't hold.

"It was good to meet with the EA and to raise the concerns of residents; they were very sympathetic. We have lots of unanswered questions, and have raised concerned about the goits and the drains."

The EA visited the site yesterday to extract trapped water from behind homes in Parkside Close, between the piling wall and temporary flood defence.

Residents have passed photos and video evidence of the flooding as well as their questions and concerns to the EA.

The Environment Agency North West tweeted yesterday: "Environment Agency chair, Emma Howard Boyd, met with residents in Close Park, Radcliffe, today to understand their flooding concerns and explain more about the £40 million flood scheme which will protect 870 properties. #FloodAware #PrepareActSurvive."

The EA also thanked construction firm BAM Nuttall, whose staff worked to prevent homes in Morris Street from flooding by shifting large quantities of earth into a mound, which acted as a defence.

Advice is due to be issued to residents today on what action to take ahead of Storm Dennis this weekend.