ESSENTIAL water mains repairs have begun on a busy Prestwich road and will tie in with a road safety project.

Council bosses and United Utilities negotiated an early start for the mains replacement scheme along Scholes Lane - to save it being dug up twice.

A major road safety project had been scheduled along the lane, between Bury Old Road and Bury New Road, for next Spring.

But Bury Council feared their hard work would go to waste when United Utilities were timetabled to carry out their mains replacement scheme along the same stretch of road after the council project was completed.

United Utilities agreed to bring forward their work, which should last around 14 weeks, but allowing for a two-week break over the festive period starting on December 20.

Prestwich Area Board welcomed the rescheduling after complaining on a number of occasions about council work and United Utilities work being unco-ordinated and causing disruption.

Contractors Cheetham Hill Construction, working on behalf of United Utilities, will have to cut a three metre deep trench running the whole length of Scholes Lane from the junction of Bury Old Road to the junction of Bury New Road. As a result, 24-hour temporary traffic lights will be in operation.

On at least two occasions, an overnight road closure will be in place for Bury New Road from 9.30pm to 6am, with diversions arranged.

Chairman of the area board, Coun Vic D'Albert, said: "I am pleased that, on this occasion, we've managed to think ahead and get major utility works done ahead of planned improvements.

"There's no point spending thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money on major works and then ripping it up so that other essential utility maintenance can be done. It will not happen in this case, and although there will be disruption to motorists, the end result will be safer roads for both residents and motorists in Prestwich."

Anyone with queries about the scheme should contact United Utilities as a first point of contact on 01942 252964 or Bury Council's customer service team on 0161 253 5353.