THE closure of North Road in Blackburn is set to continue into a fourth week, leading to concerns about more traffic disruption.

The road that connects Shadsworth Road to Audley Range has been closed for the past three weeks and was due to re-open yesterday but remained closed.

It has been shut to allow utilities to be put in for a new housing estate.

The shutdown and subsequent diversions have been causing traffic problems, especially at peak times, according to residents.

Blackburn resident Nasar Khan said he concerned that the closure was preventing emergency services from doing their job after his mum had to wait for an ambulance

He said: “This closure is ridiculous.

“My mother is 73 and she was suffering from chest pains. I called 999 at 4.30 in the morning and it was at least half an hour before an ambulance arrived.

“A rapid response car got here quickly but an ambulance was needed to transport my mother to hospital and it felt like at least half an hour before the it arrived.

“When the paramedics arrived, they said to me that they had got stuck half way down North Road because they didn’t know that there is no way of getting down the road.

“My Mum was taken to hospital for ten days but luckily she was fine, but what if it had been different?

“The council didn’t tell anyone about this road closure and it’s just been a nightmare for residents.

“I’m struggling to get my children to school on time and the traffic is horrendous. It must be affecting emergency service vehicles.”

A spokeswoman for the North West Ambulance Service said: “We attended Hastings Close within eight minutes of the 999 call.

“We were aware of the road closure on North Road and are regularly updated on road closures.”

Mr Khan complained that no notice was given about the closure of the road but a spokesman for Blackburn with Darwen borough council said “A public notice was printed in the Lancashire Telegraph, legal notices were put up on North Road.

“It would be up to the contractor if they wished to further carry out leaflet drops.

“From the latest information we have, we believe the road will reopen sometime on Monday.”