UNITED Utilities has completed repairs on a burst water main that caused traffic chaos and left some residents without water, but work is set to continue this week.

A closure has been in place at the junction of Bolton Road and Egerton Street, in Moses Gate after the main burst on Thursday.

Some residents were left without water for several hours after the incident next to the railway station.

It is believed the burst was caused by part of the road collapsing near the railway's banking.

The closure of the road means that traffic to and from Bolton town centre is having to make a 2.5 mile detour via Bradford Street.

In an update yesterday, United Utilities said that the repair on Bolton Road has now been completed but work will continue over the next few days to reverse the temporary re-routing of the water supply.

The water company added that during peak times people may notice the water pressure is slightly lower than usual.

A statement apologised for the inconvenience and thanked customers for their patience.

Some residents also complained of discoloured water over the weekend.

Anyone who was experiencing the discoloured water was being encouraged to run the cold water tap at a slight trickle until the water runs clear.

Workmen were seen working on the pipe over the weekend and traffic continued to back up in the area as a result of the diversion.

Some motorists were seen turning around as the queues were so long in the area.

It is not know how long the junction will remain closed for while United Utilities and Network Rail carry out extensive repairs.

In another update over the weekend, United Utilities said that engineers are making 'good progress' on the repairs but the location and complex nature of the work meant that it was still ongoing.

Around 300 customers contacted the company on Wednesday to complain about the lack of water and supplies were re-routed and tankers were brought in to pump in extra water.

Businesses in the area were also hit by the lack of water and takeaways and restaurants were forced to close their doors.

As well as businesses that closed due to the lack of water, others lost business as customers turned around due to the chaos caused by the road closure. One restaurant said it lost around £700 to £800.