WORK on a £5million sewer replacement scheme which aims to reduce the risk of flooding for homes in Moreton is set to begin next week.

United Utilities engineers will start laying new sewer pipes across Reeds Lane on Thursday, August 14.

A total of 300m of new, bigger pipes will eventually be laid between Reedville Grove and the River Birket, via Reeds Lane and the adjacent industrial estate, with 40m of this under Reeds Lane.

As a result the road will be closed at its junction with Reedville Grove, to the entrance of Peninsula Business Park in Squibb Drive until late September. A clearly signed diversion will be in place.

Access will be maintained to all properties and businesses. Also, all businesses will be open as usual.

The scheme will see the building of three pumping stations, an underground storage tank and bigger sewer pipes.

This will allow engineers to store the huge amounts of rainwater which falls in a short period of time, before returning it safely to the public sewer.

Graham Callanan, United Utilities project manager, said: "This next stage will unfortunately cause some inconvenience, as we need to close a busy road near the railway station.

"But please bear with us as this work will bring real improvements to the quality of the lives of customers who have suffered from flooding in the past."

In the past, dozens of families have been hit by flooding during storms, when the mix of rain and sewage would back up from pipes and start running into gardens and houses.

The scheme is planned to be completed by January.