TRAFFIC chaos in Dunscar on one of Bolton's busiest roads is expected to ease this week after changes to a controversial bus stop.

The "bus boarder" stop on Blackburn Road -- the A666 -- has been a source of complaint since it was created at the beginning of last year.

Bolton Council engineers introduced the pavement extension to help passengers who had to step out into the road to get on a bus because of parked cars.

But residents say it has caused traffic congestion because it blocked a lane of traffic -- with tailbacks at peak times as far back as the Dunscar War Memorial.

After a number of meetings and public consultation, engineers have now decided to to reduce the width of the "boarder" so that two lanes of traffic can once again squeeze past. And they are confident the move will make a "significant difference."

Astley Bridge councillors Stuart Lever and Hilary Fairclough, who have been campaigning for action, said it had taken too long.

Cllr Lever said: "Residents have suffered traffic misery with this for more than a year now and it is simply not good enough. To cut one lane out was just ridiculous.

"The council failed the people of Astley Bridge. There was already congestion and pollution problems and it did not need making worse.

"It should work now, so long as the buses stop dead on to it and don't go in at an angle. If there are still problems, we will be calling for the bus boarder to be removed altogether."