ROADWORKS which have caused traffic chaos and slashed the takings of some Rawtenstall traders by 50 per cent are coming to an end.

Bad weather has delayed the completion of the vital culvert repair works on Rawtenstall's main shopping street -- but only by two days!

The works on Bank Street were vital to replace an old masonry culvert which carries Balladen Brook under the main road and have been ongoing for 13 weeks.

It has involved the closure of a section of Bank Street from Back Lane to Ormerod Street and some shops had a temporary footpath introduced while the work was in progress.

East Lancashire Curtain and Linen Company was forced to hold its summer sale in the height of the season to try to bring in customers and Cryers took advantage of the roadworks to refit part of its premises into a Bang and Olufsen 'shop within a shop'.

Each week contractors have met members of the chamber of commerce and traders to outline their progress

A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: "The work was due to finish on August 18 but we have hit a few problems because of the bad weather.

"The contractors are now on with concreting and that has had to be delayed because of the weather. We have put a number of options to the traders.

"We could either have re-opened next Saturday to one-way traffic and traffic lights or delayed the opening for a couple of days so the work could be completed.

"The traders and Chamber of Commerce agreed that we should keep the road closed until the work was finished and so, weather dependant, it will re-open on August 20."

The county council provided signs to ensure the public was aware the town centre remained open and also leaflets to promote businesses affected by the disruption. Buses which normally used Bank Street were diverted to St Mary's Way.