WORRIED drivers could be forgiven for thinking they have hit a dead end when they arrive in Nelson town centre.

Arriving in Manchester Road, one of the three main roads into the town, they are greeted with a sign that reads: "Every Street closed to through traffic."

Fortunately, as locals at least will know, the temporary sign refers to a road called Every Street rather than all the roads through the centre.

Diversions have been set up to ensure the town centre is not cut off completely.

One local driver said: "I had to look at the sign twice before I realised what it really meant." The busy street, which is used by motorists to "bypass" the centre, is blocked at its junction with Carr Road while work on replacing a gas main goes ahead.

Colin Badminton, highways engineer at Pendle Council, said: "The work at that point is expected to last about a fortnight. After that it will move in stages along Every Street to Forest Street and then along there to Scotland Road.

"The whole scheme is expected to last until the middle of September.

"Diversions will be set up as the work progresses to try and keep disruption to a minimum.

"I'm not aware there have been any complaints or confusion because of the signs."

So Every Street in Nelson will be blocked for several weeks, but drivers shouldn't worry too much!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.