A BUSINESS owner has said the ongoing roadworks outside his shop has led to "a horrendous month", as a lack of footfall and passing trade continue to damage his takings.

Pino Mazzafiore, 34, owns Terranean Tiles on Sandy Lane, Lower Darwen, and takes great pride in the clean and aesthetically appealing design of his "beautiful" shopfront.

Despite the roadworks going on for around two  years, over the last month the closure of Sandy Lane due to roadworks carried out by United Utilities have badly affected a number of businesses in the area as "people can't tell if we're open or not".

He said: "There have been roadworks between United Utilities and the council for nearly two years now and this past month been horrendous.

"Sandy Lane has been closed off and local businesses, not just me, but a few others are being affected.

"The garage on the corner has struggled too and they had to close at one point. I've rung up United Utilities and the council but they have offered no support whatsoever over what is continuing to happen.

Lancashire Telegraph: SHOP: Mr Mazzafoire owns Terranean Tiles on Sandy Lane, Lower DarwenSHOP: Mr Mazzafoire owns Terranean Tiles on Sandy Lane, Lower Darwen

"I have made every effort to present my shop in a beautiful way and yet at the moment it looks like a building site. It's a living nightmare.

"It's gone on too long. I even asked the council to just put something simple out on social media to say the shops on Sandy Lane are still open for business, but they said they couldn't.

"I just hope it's all wrapped up and finished soon and we can start trading at full pace again."

A spokesperson for United Utilities said: "I'm pleased to say that we have now finished our work laying a new sewer pipe on Sandy Lane in Darwen and are now in the process of temporarily reinstating the road so that it can reopen on February 24.

"After that, the only thing left to finish is a permanent road reinstatement which we're currently agreeing with the local highways authority and plan to complete in stages over a period of about two weeks.

"We've done our best to minimise disruption where possible and to assist local business owners impacted by this work.

"Our engineers have worked evenings and weekends to complete the job as fast as possible. Unfortunately, it has been a complex project, involving a number of other utilities, which is why it has taken longer than usual to finish.

"We apologise for the inconvenience this essential work has caused to residents and businesses in Darwen."

A Blackburn with Darwen Council spokesperson said: "We confirm that there is on site signage advising that businesses are open as usual and that the owner is liaising with the statutory undertaker undertaking the works."