Latest updates as Storm Christoph brings disruption to the North West on Thursday 21 January
Cheshire takes brunt of flooding
Severe flood warnings in place on River Bollin near Lymm and River Dee near Chester
Dozens of pensioners at a Northwich retirement village are stranded by flooding
Thousands of homes narrowly escaped serious flooding in Manchester
Rail services disrupted across Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Lancashire
Government figures show the levels for the River Bollin at Bollington Mill - between the flood-hit villages of Heatley and Little Bollington - equaled the highest recorded in the area this morning.
The government's flood warnings website recorded the river , externalto have peaked at 1.49m, almost half a metre higher than the 1m level needed for the possibility of flooding in the area.
A second retirement village in Northwich is going to be evacuated Cheshire West and Chester Council has said.
The council said plans are in place to evacuate residents from Marbury Court in addition to Weaver Court, where 49 residents and staff have been cut off by flood waters.
A spokesman said the council had "secured hotel accommodation for the residents and they will be taken from the homes in a safe and socially-distanced manner".
Labour's Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols has called for a debate on the impact of Storm Christoph and flooding on her constituency and the surrounding area.
The Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, said action "has been taken to ensure people will be safer in future".
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Cheshire West and Chester Council has asked "motorists and pedestrians" to avoid Northwich, because of the flooding there.
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The Environment Agency currently has three severe flood warnings in place across Cheshire.
The warning is the highest level set by the agency and means there is severe flooding and a danger to life int he surrounding area.
The warnings are in place as follows:
Previous severe warnings for the River Mersey at Didsbury and Northenden have now been downgraded.
Residents at a retirement village have been stranded by flooding caused by Storm Christoph.
Image source, Sam NaylorWeaver Court in Northwich has been surrounded by water and is currently without power and water.
Northwich councillor Sam Naylor said the 49 residents and staff at the village were "safe and in good spirits".
Here are the levels of the River Mersey recorded at Northenden over the past five days, which show the level exceeded the highest previously recorded.
The highest recorded level was 3.25m - about 20cm higher than the previous recorded highest in 2016 - a figure that was almost double the level where flooding could be possible.
The graph is taken from the government flood warnings website, external.
Lancashire has escaped the worst of the flooding from Storm Christoph, but there are five flood warnings still in place - four for the River Irwell in Rossendale, and another for the River Douglas at Parbold.
The Environment Agency said it had had no reports of any homes being flooded.
Lancashire Fire Service confirmed it had sent three water rescue teams to help colleagues in Cheshire.
Trafford Council is flagging up the dangers of tampering with warning signs in the floods after a vehicle became stranded on one of the borough's roads.
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The Manchester Rapid Relief Team (RRT) has described a "tense experience" after they helped residents prop up sand bags to protect properties in Marple last night.
Image source, Kevin BondKevin Bond, regional team leader at RRT, said a major incident was avoided "by the skin of our teeth".
Bruno Beech, who also was at the scene with RRT, described how he saw "rain just keep on coming" with water levels rising "very quickly".
Quote MessageIt our job was to help the residents sand bags up the front of drives, front doors and garages - all credit to the residents, they had got the first lot of sand bags down as a team effort.
Quote MessageIt was really amazing to see how that street came together and protected each other’s properties.
Image source, Kevin BondQuote MessageIt is not an exaggeration to say that had they not done so, some serious damage would have been inevitable.
The RRT are still on standby in Manchester and Stockport, Mr Beech added.
The severe flood warning in place for Didsbury has been stepped down, Greater Manchester Police has announced.
Image source, PA MediaIt comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson viewed the aftermath of the flooding in south Manchester.
Assistant Chief Constable Nick Bailey said Didsbury was "past the worst point of potential flooding".
Quote MessageWe have taken the decision, following consultation with the Environment Agency and Met Office, to step down the major incident that was declared on Tuesday morning.
Quote MessageI want to be clear that this does not mean that we are withdrawing resources from the areas affected and others identified as potentially vulnerable.
There will be increased patrols from emergency services to support those facing challenges caused by the flooding.
Severe flood warnings remain in place in Little Bollington in Trafford. The force said it was in contact with those residents who may be affected.
Northenden resident Mo Qadar, 31, has described being evacuated from his home last night.
Quote MessageAn evacuation is the last thing you expect to find yourself doing when you come home from work in the evening.
Quote MessageWe were evacuated during snowfall and the priority for us was to provide assistance to the elderly residents living opposite our flat.
Quote MessageMy partner arranged for their son to collect his mother, while this was happening we were able to pack essentials and drive to my partner's parents in Withington.
Mr Qadar said some residents were "unaware of the severity of the situation" but were advised to leave their homes at 23:00.
People in Didsbury do not often face upheavals like major flooding evacuations.
On Wednesday night the same river rose and plunged thousands of residents into new depths of stress and confusion, coming just centimetres from breaching flood defences.
There have been flood warnings here before, of course, but nothing on this scale in recent memory.
Image source, PA MediaMany residents spent the night with family or friends, with Covid-19 restrictions allowing a reprieve for anybody facing danger.
Some were evacuated to The Forum Leisure Centre in nearby Wythenshawe, while others went to Didsbury Mosque.
Life-long Didsbury resident Terry Sheldon lives in the house he was born in 69 years ago, in Darley Avenue, just metres from the river.
"The whole thing has been staggering," he said. "I've never seen it like this here in my lifetime."
You can read the full story from BBC NW Online reporter Tom Mullen here.
Mat Trewern
BBC Radio Manchester journalist
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been viewing the aftermath of the flooding in south Manchester.
He spent about 20 minutes alongside the River Mersey in Didsbury speaking to Environment Agency staff, police and local residents.
Council officials say the area had a lucky escape as major flooding was avoided.
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People who had to evacuate their homes in Didsbury and Northenden after flooding last night can return to their homes, Manchester City Council has said.
The Greater Manchester Strategic Co-ordination Group for Storm Christoph and the Environment Agency has stood down the severe flood warning for the two areas.
But emergency services remain on alert as water levels are expected to vary.
A council spokesman added: "Vulnerable people will be helped to return home during the day.
"Water levels had continued to rise overnight as expected, but the Didsbury Basin did not significantly overflow and the worst-case scenario was avoided."
Snow last night was a "godsend" that kept flood waters from rising higher, according to Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
Image source, ReutersMr Burnham told BBC Radio Manchester the "snow really helped us at a crucial moment", adding:
Quote MessageIt was a bit of a godsend, to be honest, because with it just lying on the ground, it didn't add to the levels.
Quote MessageFinally, we can say something went right.
However, he said that "while the most risky moment might have passed the danger’s not gone completely, because the water levels in the Mersey will stay very high and there’s the effect of the snow as it melts".
"We’re not out of the woods yet," he said.
A shop owner in Northwich has shared pictures of the flooding there and described it as a "terrible morning for our business again".
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People receiving Covid-19 vaccinations in St Helens are being advised that access routes to Totally Wicked Stadium have been restricted due to flooding.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe stadium's owners St Helens rugby league club said access was possible "via Peasley Cross Road off the roundabouts on the St Helens Link Way" but it had closed the bridge access "via the town centre access to Peasley Cross Road".
"The point of access used via Tesco yesterday is now closed in order to keep traffic on the main highways," a spokesman added.
The stadium is a mass vaccination hub for Merseyside.
BBC Breakfast
The Environment Agency says people should sign up for flood updates or use its website to make sure they can keep safe.
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Firefighters in Cheshire have responded to 134 flood-related incidents in the past 24 hours.
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