FLOODING on one of the main routes into Sale caused traffic chaos on Monday morning.

The A6144 Manchester Road from Partington to Sale was closed after a stretch of it was flooded.

Two drivers who tried to drive through the foot deep flood water in Carrington were marooned in the middle of it and their cars had to be pulled out.

There were long queues on either side of the flood, which followed torrential rain over the past few days.

One commuter who was caught up in the chaos said: "It was awful. You were in the queue with no idea of what had happened until you got to the end of it."

Another driver had to take a detour through Dunham and a journey from Lymm that normally takes her 40 minutes lasted two hours.

She said: "It was horrific - especially on a Monday morning."

The flood affected Vicarage Botanical Gardens in Carrington as well as the road.

Flood water up to two half a half feet deep covered more than half the botanical gardens, and ruined a £5,000 formal garden that was completed just two months ago.

Some of the animals in the centre's mini zoo, including rabbits, guinea pigs and quails, had to be shifted away from the flood.

The centre said it was the third flood in three and a half years, and blamed the problem on a blocked pipe.

Robin Alexander, director of the botanical garden, said: "It is a disgrace that this has happened again."

Flood watches are in place on the Middle River Mersey at Sale and Urmston. Other areas under threat are Sinderland and Stretford.

A council spokeswoman said of the closure of the A6144: "Diversions have been put into place to direct traffic from the junction of Manchester Road and Flixton Road onto the M60 motorway, and from the mini roundabout at the junction of Moss Lane and Manchester Road, in Partington, through to Altrincham.

"The road was closed after a drain collapsed on private land opposite Vicarage Garden Centre and caused the road to flood. Motorists are advised to find alternatives routes until the road reopens."