NEW roadworks to erect traffic lights at an accident blackspot are causing severe delays to motorists.

Residents and councillors have been campaigning for 30 years to improve safety at the busy A6 and Manchester Road junction, in Blackrod.

Now, Bolton Council has invested £240,000 to erect traffic lights at the spot, where 11 accidents have been reported in the last three years.

But drivers face three-months of jams while the roadworks are carried out.

One commuter, who asked not to be named, said: "People assumed there must have been a bad accident. Judging by the amount horns being blasted, tempers were getting pretty frayed."

The motorist said that traffic was tailed back on to the M61 at 7am yesterday and it took about 30 minutes to get off the Tesco car park.

A council spokesman said: "Unfortunately, severe delays are expected but the long-term safety benefits of the scheme will outweigh any temporary disruption."