MAJOR repair work is underway in Winsford as United Utilities race to repair a burst water main.

Large amounts of earth have been removed from beneath the A54 outside the Police Headquarters in Oakmere Road to access the damaged pipework.

UU and Cheshire West and Chester Council spokesmen have confirmed that work to repair the damage – forecast to last over the weekend – will likely take until the end of the week.

“The mains pipe in this area is four metres deep – which is unusually deep and the burst has caused quite a lot of damage to the road,” said a UU spokesman.

“We worked throughout the weekend and had to dig up quite a lot of the road.

“There will have to be a lot of reinstatement work. It’s a major road and the work has to be done right. It will be another few days until it is open.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council has put a new diversion in place around the works using the A556 and A533.

Delamere Street will continue to act as a division route for local drivers.

Rush hour motorists faced long delays through Winsford on Monday morning, September 29, where the only signed diversion was via Delamere Street.

Winsford taxi driver, Alan Halpin, said: “I was stuck for about half an hour between 8.30-9am.

“Shutting down the whole road for two-and-a-half days and sending people down Delamere Street was ridiculous.

“There were cones out to stop people parking on the side of the road, but it was still very busy.”

A United Utilites spokesman added: “Unfortunately, the road is going to have to stay closed. It’s likely to remain closed until later this week and we can’t specify an exact date at this time.