BUS services are expected to be severely disrupted from Wednesday as work starts to strengthen a major Bolton bridge.

Engineers at Bolton Council's highways department are to begin a further 12 week period of repair work on the A666 Manchester Road, between Moses Gate and Green Lane. Work will last until October.

The First Manchester bus company says the work will affect seven services.

Routes affected are expected to be the number eight service from Bolton to Manchester; the 524 Bolton to Bury; the 500 Bolton to Manchester Airport; the 554 Bolton to the Trafford Centre and the 551, 552 and 553 Bolton to Leigh via Farnworth.

Simon Bennett, First Manchester's managing director of business unit West, said: "We will do everything we can to limit the affects of these bridgeworks and apologise to customers for any inconvenience.

"But we do ask them to understand this situation is outside our control."

Fears of expected disruptions follow meetings held last week between council chiefs and bosses at First Manchester.

Mr Bennett said: "We were told about these bridgeworks last week and the start date was confirmed to us today."

First Manchester is nowasking local authorities to inform them of planned roadworks well in advance.

The restrengthening work involves Skew Lane bridge on Manchester Road.

Traffic is to be redirected along the existing one-way section of Manchester Road between Green Lane and Moses Gate.