ELECTRICITY bosses are to go ahead with work to solve cable problems that have caused a series of power cuts in Bolton recently.

Workmen from United Utilities will carry out major underground cable work to improve the electricity supply to more than 3,000 homes in Tonge Fold.

The £200,000 scheme should be complete within two weeks and involves replacing five cables just over half-a-mile long which currently supply the centre of Bolton as well as Tonge Fold.

The decision comes after thousands of homes in the Tonge Fold area were struck at least three times in a week earlier this monthby power cuts for up to three hours at a time.

Five hHeavy duty underground cables, which run from a sub-station in Union Street, along the banks of the River Tonge, to Waterloo Street, will be replaced and re-routed to make them more easily accessible for any future repairs.

John Carberry from United Utilities said: "The cables were put in about 90 years ago and are are very old, so that and the fact that they are very difficult to repair due to their route along the river bank means that replacing them completely seemed to be the best option."

The new route will take the cables under the pavements and United Utilities intend on using existing ducts wherever possible.

Mr Carberry added: "In the meantime, we would apologise to those who have been affected by the power cuts and ask them to bear with us.

"There is a lot of pressure on the system so at peak times residents in the Tonge Fold area may notice small reductions in power, such as flickering lights."