BUSINESSES in part of Blackburn town centre are concerned they will lose custom because of urgent repair works on a collapsed sewer.

Traffic will not be able to travel down Mincing Lane from the section in between the St Peter Street and Mill Lane junctions until next Monday, although pedestrians will still have access.

Joe Passerini, owner of Passerini Barbers, said: “I’ve lived here all my life and I don’t know how anyone’s going to get up here, or even get into town at all with the road blocked.

“United Utilities and the council haven’t informed us of any alternative routes and I’m not sure where anyone will park either.

“Many of my customers come by car and I think they will come half way down the road, have to turn back, get diverted elsewhere and not be able to find their way back because of the complicated one-way system.”

To work on the collapsed sewer, United Utilities will dig more than three metres down into the middle of the road outside Lees Hall, make their repairs and then reinstate the affected area. The company has said the work was essential and apologised for any inconvenience.

Benj Ashmead, tattoo artist at Eagles Wing Tattooing, said: “It will stop walk-ins, which make up for about 10 per cent of our customers I would say.

Terry Holden, supervisor at Kwik Fit, said: “We’re going to be stuck. People will have to make a big detour and go round in a big square to get to us.”