Maintence works which have been causing chaos for drivers will be completed ‘within days’, it has been claimed.

Drivers wanting to turn onto Blackburn Road from Church and Oswaldtwistle have encountered significant delays due to the works which are being carried out by the Gas Alliance.

A temporary traffic light was installed in August and has remained at the junction even when the works looked as if they were coming to completion last month.

Oswaldtwistle Councillor Peter Britcliffe said the works are creating traffic chaos for drivers.

He said: "It would be easier to break out of prison than it is to get into Accrington at the moment. It’s a nightmare for people wanting to get in into town. We seem to have been inundated with road works wherever you go in Oswaldtwistle at the moment which is part of summer but it seems worse this year."

He said drivers have also had to deal with additional traffic from lorries making deliveries to the Hyndburn Windfarm project on Oswaldtwistle Moor.

Coun Britcliffe added: "It’s one thing after another."

A spokesman for the Gas Alliance said the traffic light was installed during the first stage of their project which involves replacing old metal connectors with new ones at the Henry Street and Blackburn Road junction.

She said: "We have kept the traffic light installed as we are working to try and connect the existing main in another location."

She added that the replacement connectors should last up to 18 years and works should be finished within days.

The Hyndburn Windfarm project is expected to be completed this month.