BBC Radio Lancashire flooded and evacuated

Staff and presenters at BBC Radio Lancashire were forced to play the back-up tape during the breakfast show today.

The Blackburn-based station had a flood and fire alarm just after 8.30am, and was on non-stop music for almost an hour, before switching to a feed of BBC Radio Manchester. Just before the 9.30 headlines Mike Sweeney on BBC Radio Manchester welcomed Lancashire listeners and encouraged them to take part in the show.

The station tweeted at 8.39am saying: “We will be back on air as soon as we can. Just waiting for the all clear to return to the building.” Later, a video was posted to the station’s Twitter account showing the morning staff outside the building.

A video, posted below, shows presenter Graham Liver and reporter Scott Read letting listeners know what’s happening.

Local programmes returned just before 10am.

Thank you for bearing with us.. We are trying to get back on air! Here's @GrahamLiver pic.twitter.com/nvMkWroiCy

— BBC Lancashire (@BBCLancashire) October 6, 2015

We've joined our colleagues on @bbcradiomanc while we await the go ahead to continue broadcasting.

— BBC Lancashire (@BBCLancashire) October 6, 2015