‘HORRENDOUS’ roadworks in Church are set to be completed by the end of this week.

Roadworks have been carried out at the A6185 crossroads in Church, near to Express Gifts, for several months.

The work has previously attracted criticism for the delays and traffic issues , especially around peak times.

However highways bosses said the work is part of the wider Burnley, Pendle and Hyndburn Growth Corridor scheme and should be completed ‘later this week’.

The work aims to reduce congestion on the road and also help support economic growth and business in the area.

Cllr Jean Battle, who represents Church on Hyndburn Council, said work has previously been causing big problems in the area.

She said: “It’s just horrendous.

“Work has been going on that road since January.

“The work seems to have been really dragging its feet.

“There’s been problems with some of the white markings on the road as the work has been progressing, it's been hard to work out where cars are going.

“I do everything I can to avoid that road like the plague at the moment.

“Things have to have started moving better over the last couple of days, hopefully the end really is near.”

The work carried out by Lancashire County Council has involved the traffic signals at the junction between Henry Street, Manor Place and Dunkenhalgh Way.

The growth corridor includes a number of existing and future strategic employment sites across Burnley, Pendle and Hyndburn.

It is being carried out in conjunction with Burnley Council, Pendle Council, Hyndburn Council and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership.

County council bosses said that the work will improve traffic conditions in the area and have numerous benefits.

A spokesman said: “It’s important that the road network is able to cope with vehicles travelling to and from these new developments.

“The corridor improvements scheme will create additional capacity on the highway network and reduce congestion.

“It will also support economic growth across the corridor through highway improvements in and around M65.”

County cllr Bernard Dawson, who represents Accrington South, said: “They’ve been going on for a long time now.

“There’s been some horrendous queues over the past few months, it’s been very difficult.

“It’s not been helped by one or other roadworks going on in Hyndburn at the same time.”