BATTLING small businesses who took on the might of United Utilities have won a major round in their road closure battle.

Following a meeting with the company, its sub contractors, MP Andy Burnham, council leader Lord Peter Smith and local councillors, Leigh Road and Nel Pane Lane in Leigh will reopen next week ahead of the planned June schedule.

It will operate on a traffic light system and bring relief for motorists, who have been forced to take a long detour, and traders whose takings have plummeted.

Part of Wigan Road will remain closed while a manhole is constructed outside the Tamar pub as part of major sewer replacement work.

Traders' spokesman, Glenn Hitchen, said: "Thankfully we have made some progress. We definitely got something out of the meeting, and the fact that the contractor rang me on Saturday at home to tell me the asphalt company were working on Sunday means we got through.

"As a result of the get together Mr Burnham and Lord Smith have said they will write to United Utilities informing them that information on road closures must be improved where businesses are concerned, and that compensation must be made easier for businesses to claim for losses.

"Mr Burnham also invited any businesses having difficulty, or who feel that United Utilities is being obstructive in their claims, to contact him."