COUNCIL engineers agreed to remove a 'road closed' sign following protests from businesses.

Traders claimed the sign near Bethel community centre at Hindley Green, was cutting off access unnecessarily.

Car dealer Steve James, whose garage has been affected by the diversions, said though part of Wigan Road was closed for a United Utilities brook improvement scheme there were still routes of access along Bickershaw Lane and Nel Pan Lane and he didn't see why the road should be closed from Hindley Green.

A council spokesman said: "The engineers put additional signs in the area because so many drivers weren't getting the message.

"We think they may have got it now so we shall remove them and we apologise for any inconvenience."