BRIGHOUSE is bracing itself for major gas mains work.

Drivers face two months of disruption as one of the town's main roads is dug up.

More than half-a-mile of old gas pipes will be replaced in Halifax Road from January 22.

Metal pipes will be replaced with plastic ones designed to last 80 years at a cost of £150,000.

The work will take place in two stages.

Stage one starts with the section from Garden Road to Waterloo Road and will last about four weeks.

Stage two will be from Waterloo Road to Elland Road from February 19. It, too, will last about four weeks.

Halifax Road will remain open, but traffic will only be able to travel towards Brighouse.

There will be diversions for traffic travelling towards Halifax.

A spokesman for United Utilities, which runs the pipelines in Yorkshire for Northern Gas Networks, said: "The pipes in this area date to the 1920s and need to be replaced.

"But we will work very hard to keep disruption to a minimum."

Pipes will also be replaced in Brighouse Wood Lane, Rydings Avenue and Sunny Bank Road.

Access will be maintained for residents and traders at all times.

Bus services will be diverted when work gets under way in Halifax Road.