RESIDENTS have been promised free car washing facilities because their vehicles are constantly covered in dust from roadworks.

People in the Broadhead Road area of Turton say they have endured dirt and disruption as Transco dig up the road.

At a public meeting at the Toby Inn on Broadhead Road, the company promised to try to solve the problems created in laying down its 30km high pressure gas pipe which will run between Samlesbury and Helmshore.

Work in the area started around two months ago and since then villagers say they have had to put up with convoys of wagons blocking the narrow road and mud flying on to their cars.

Coun Jean Rigby of North Turton and Tockholes Ward said: "Residents have been inconvenienced, people are having to have to wash their cars on a daily basis because of all the mud."

Coun Rigby, a representative from Trancso and a representative from the borough council's highway department attended the meeting to hear local concerns.

After the meeting Broadhead Road resident Vicky Hollinshead said: "I live 50 yards away from where the work takes place -- which means I am wakened, even on Sundays, at 7am by the noise. It's 7am to 7pm seven days a week.

"The road is a mess. It's very narrow and in a pretty bad condition and three wagons in a convoy park on it, which means they are totally blocking one lane.

"Transco were not aware of the problems and so we will now give them a chance to sort things out and see what happens."

Mrs Lynne Hough, who lives off Broadhead Road, said: "There's mud on the road and every time I come home I have to have my car washed. I appreciate the work has to be done but they could be more considerate with the people who live up here.

"I'm really concerned about the state of the road. It's breaking up because of the heavy vehicles. If nothing is done before winter it could crumble away."

Transco spokeswoman Jeanette Jackson said: "The 30km high pressure gas pipe is being constructed between Samlesbury and Helmshore.

"It is a major project designed to meet growing demand for gas in East Lancashire and mainly going through agricultural land and moorland.

"We are looking at the leg of this work to be finished by the end of October and then we will have to come back in March next year.

"Particular problems have arisen with the horrendous weather problems we are having at the moment.

"We have brought in a mechanised road sweeper to constantly remove the mud but at the moment it seems to be failing to clear it."

She said some kind of access to free car cleaning would be arranged.