MOTORISTS are being urged to avoid a main road in Winsford.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has taken to social media to alert drivers to a lane closure on Wharton Road.

It comes after a manhole collapsed, requiring a repair.

"There is currently a collapsed manhole on Wharton Road in Winsford resulting in a lane closure from High Street to Wharton Road with a diversion in place," reads the council's Facebook post.

"Our teams will fix the problem as soon as they can but please avoid the area if possible."

The collapsed manhole is right outside the Red Lion pub, which remains open for business.

According to the pub, the road should be reopened by 4pm today (April 23).

A post on the Red Lion's Facebook read: "Work still being carried out on the road on the Wharton Road.

"The utilities workmen on site hope to have the road opened no later than 4pm this evening.

"However, customers wanting to visit us and make use of our car park can access by following the diversion to Station Road, loop back to the top road and cut across the road to the entrance of the Red Lion.

"If you require assistance in directions, please call us on 01606 591818 for us to advise.

"Apologise for the inconvenience and we look forward to welcoming you."

United Utilities say they have staff working on the site to repair the work and get the road reopened as soon as possible. 

A spokesperson said: "An emergency road closure was put in place last night whilst works to repair a collapsed manhole are being undertaken.

"Our engineers are on-site to finish the repair work and complete a sewer clean at this location.

"We are working as quickly as possible so that disruption can be kept to a minimum and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."