GAS main replacement is set to bring bank holiday traffic chaos to one of Blackburn's busiest roads.

Motorists are being warned to avoid Brownhill Drive as engineers carry out essential work between Saturday, June 1, and Tuesday, June 4.w

The work is being carried out close to the junction with Whalley New Road and Transco is warning that lane closures will cause delays.

Transco is working on a massive, rolling programme to replace iron gas mains with modern, plastic ones. A total of 307km of pipeline will be replaced in the North West in 2002 as part of a 30-year programme planned in conjunction with the Health and Safety Executive.

A Transco spokesman said every effort will be made to keep disruption to residents and road users to a minimum.

"Once new plastic piping is in the ground, it is unlikely people will see us carrying out roadworks on this main for many decades."