A MAJOR road in Haslingden will be closed ‘for at least a week’ after a hole appeared in the road.

Reports of the hole, which was partly caused by a burst water main, were given to the police at 1am on Sunday and emergency engineers attended the scene in Blackburn Road to start repairing the damage.

Engineers have since been working on the problem, which also includes damage to a drain and the sewer network. A spokesman for water supplier United Utilities said the road, which is the main one through the town, will remain closed for at least a week while work is carried out.

He said that a date for when they would be able to reopen the road to traffic would be clearer towards the end of the week. Mark Donaghy, from United Utilities, said: “Blackburn Road has been shut both ways between Deardengate and Townsend Street, while we look at working on the water main, drain and possibly a blocked sewer.

“We are very sorry for the disruption this emergency work will cause people in Haslingden.

“We would be grateful if everyone could bear with us while we carry out the complex repair work to these pipes.

“We will work as quickly as possible to get this important work completed and the route reopened.

“It is difficult for us to give a completion date at the moment, but it is likely the road will be closed for at least a week.”

Rossendale Borough councillor Granville Morris said: “It will obviously cause a build up of traffic at peak times and it proves that there are a lot of very old drains below our towns around here.

“It’s going to cause a lot of inconvenience to people but it’s necessary for work to be completed and for it to be done right.

“This is a major road through Haslingden and it will also impact on local businesses.”