“FARCICAL” road signs are diverting drivers on a detour of five-and-a-half-miles which leads them to a closed road.

The succession of signs and diversions, which starts in Bromley Cross, are sending rural pub goers the wrong way — and a landlord who is losing trade has made a comical Benny Hill-style video to highlight the issue.

Richard Greenwood said the problem, caused because of renovation work to the railway bridge in Greens Arms Road, has cut the number of drinkers coming to the Chetham Arms from Bolton.

Mr Greenwood added: “It is just ridiculous. I’ve got no issue with the road closure. These jobs need to be done.

“But our customers from Bolton think Chapeltown Road is closed and are going up Darwen Road and five-and-a-half miles out of the way.

“We have noticed a drop in trade of about 25 per cent and we’ve only just had a refurbishment.

“Normally, when you have that, you get a boost as people come in to see what the place is now like, but the opposite has been true.”

Network Rail and Blackburn with Darwen Council both claim the other is responsible for the confusing signs.

The signs in Turton Road show a right-turn arrow up Chapeltown Road, with a “road closed” sign.

Network Rail, carrying out repairs to the bridge in Greens Arms Road, said it helped Blackburn with Darwen Council with the signs, but said the positioning of them was the local authority’s responsibility.

A council spokesman said it was true that it “signed off” the diversion route but said it was a “Network Rail issue”.

Mr Greenwood said his complaints have resulted in a “businesses open as usual” sign, which does not solve the issue of people still believing the road is closed.

He added: “If you follow the diversion round Darwen Road you can’t get back into Chapeltown because the road is shut. It is a bit of a farce really and it has affected trade.”

The work started in August 18 and the road is set to be shut until December.

Ian Joslin, area director for Network Rail, said: “This work is essential to extend the safe use of the bridge and reduce the amount of maintenance required in the future.

“We have carefully planned the work to be completed in the safest and quickest way and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”