MAJOR repairs to the sewer system beneath Milnsbridge start next week.

The first phase of an upgrade of the system will start on Monday, when contractors working for Yorkshire Water dig up Pickford Street.

They are to build a combined sewer overflow chamber beneath the road and the work is expected to last five weeks.

The road will be closed, except for access.

The work will include a stainless steel mesh screen designed to hold more sewage debris in the system after heavy or prolonged rain.

This should help to ensure that storm water discharged into the River Colne is of a higher quality, cutting pollution and encouraging a richer variety of plant and wildlife to flourish.

"We hope we can be in and out in five weeks," said Yorkshire Water project manager Dominic Cunney.

"Some inconvenience is inevitable, but as Pickford Street is so narrow, we don't really have any choice but to close it.

"However, we would like to assure our customers that we will try to finish the job as quickly as we can."

Similar projects are also planned beneath Morley Lane, Shaw Lane, Scar Lane and Market Street.