PEDESTRIANS are being forced to negotiate a treacherous stretch of pavement after delays to water mains repairs, claims a councillor.

Pedestrians are being forced to tread carefully along the part of the footpath left in Dobb Brow bridge, Wigan Road, Westhoughton.

The rest of the pavement has been fenced off and left out of bounds while water company United Utilities drains water mains.

The work was scheduled to finish four months ago, when rail engineers completed work to strengthen the bridge.

Cllr David Wilkinson, Bolton Council's executive member for environment, called for United Utilities to speed up work to drain the water mains which run along the bridge and make the footpath safer.

"This has dragged on far too long," said Cllr Wilkinson, who represents the Westhoughton South ward. "For those people who have to negotiate it with a wheelchair or buggy, it's dangerous." Council bosses said they had scheduled the bridge work to fit in with other contractors, including United Utilities, in order to minimise inconvenience for motorists and pedestrians.

"All the work was supposed to be completed at the same time to make sure there was minimum delay to road users and that included pedestrians," added Cllr Wilkinson.

"United Utilities seems to be well behind schedule but we are getting the blame for it because people assume it's council work."

A spokesman for United Utilities said problems had been caused by one of the water mains which it had been unable to drain.

"We are investigating the problem and hope to have the path resurfaced within a matter of weeks," said the spokesman.

"Once the work has been completed, there will be a better footpath than previously."