Villagers have been reassured that access will be available as a road closure is in place as the biggest road resurfacing scheme in the area continues.

Work is currently taking place on Radcliffe Road in Darcy Lever, but there are fears that the whole road will be closed off tomorrow.

Today Cllr Sean Hornby met with residents to reassure them that only part of the road will be closed off - and there would be access - just no through road.

He said: "This is the single biggest road project to take place in the area and it is a piece of work which has to take place.

"It is a long stretch of road, nearly a quarter-of-a-mile. It is a busy B road used by traffic as a cut through. The nature of the owrk mean that road has to be closed.

"When people are saying the road’s completely closed off, we can’t get to the estate, that’s not true.

“Only one part is closed tomorrow which is the last bit that drops down the hill  and then goes up towards the old Seven Stars pub."

He says he has been working with residents and people who use the road to minimise disruption.

Cllr Hornby said: “Once that is complete a date will be set next week for works for resurfacing works.

“A week after a chicane will be put in in to slow traffic down because in the past traffic has gone down there at 50, 60 mph.

"I will be speaking to highways to find out when that work will take place so residents can be prepared in advance."

He added: "The works are an inconvenience sometimes, but the benefits at the end will be worth it.”

Cllr Hornby said an issue with bins not being emptied was not to do with the roadworks, but a council problem with bin lorries. He urged people to leave their bins out tomorrow or Saturday.

He said: “It’s the biggest investment in any roadworks Little Lever ward has had in the last 30 years.

"I welcome it on a busy stretch of road, it’s a B road which has needed resurfacing for some time and traffic measures to improve safety.

“It’s not just used by cars and lorries, but by horse riders too."