WATER officials spent two weeks denying they were about to start more roadworks close to Brownhill roundabout before finally admitting to the £1 million scheme.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph first contacted North West Water at the beginning of this month following rumours that more sewer work was planned in the area after the completion of a £3.4 million road scheme.

A spokesman said: "We have completed all our work in the area, in conjunction with the Highways Agency."

Later the same week we contacted North West Water again, after Lancashire County Council officials said they believed the utility was about to carry out works at either side of the Brownhill roundabout junction improvement area.

"Sorry, not us," came the reply.

Last week we contacted the company again when rumours persisted that work was about to be done along Whalley New Road, Wilpshire. A spokesman insisted: "We have completed all work in that area. I have telephoned our Blackburn depot and they have said there is no outstanding work in that area or any other area of town.

"I asked them if there was any work due to be done anywhere near that site, even a mile away, and they said no."

Finally this week North West Water was able to confirm the work to replace the remaining part of a sewer which was updated during work on the junction.

Press officer Sue Wright blamed the mix-up on poor commun- ication.

She said: "We wouldn't deliberately not tell you about this work. It's a big £1 million scheme which needs to be done to stop the flooding of foul sewers.

"We have been given bad information from somebody and I will check out to see what has gone wrong. I can only apologise."

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