RESIDENTIAL streets could be brought to a standstill by gas pipe repairs on a main route through Worcester, fear people living nearby.

Homeowners in and around Wyld's Lane are concerned drivers will use the road as a short cut around the work in Sidbury.

Transco begins a 10-weeks maintenance project later this month and a restriction stopping traffic turning right into Wyld's Lane off London Road is being temporarily lifted.

Flavia Ceci, who runs Flavia Hair Salon, feared the increased traffic would add to problems of lorries struggling to make the tight turn into Park Street.

"Before Christmas, one of them got stuck, reversed and knocked down my awning and I've only just had it replaced," she added.

Ken Hanns, from Fort Royal Hill, which leads on to Wyld's Lane and offers another short cut, said: "It's a very narrow turn into Wyld's Lane. There is traffic bumps and building work going on so there

is going to be a bottleneck.

"Our hill isn't designed for much traffic and we already get a considerable number of big lorries and school traffic so it is going to cause problems."

But Mohammed Ilyas, who owns property in Wyld's Lane, said it was down to drivers to make the system work.

"As long as people are happy to drive through sensibly it doesn't matter, but I don't want boy racers - we've got kids walking down here," he said.

Tom Comerford, senior engineer at the county's Transportation Partnership, said the restriction had to be lifted as no left turn would be available into Wyld's Lane.

"What tends to happen is traffic that tries to rat run will spread itself across all routes. Some might use Wyld's Lane but it won't be any worse than normal," he added.

The work is due to begin on Monday, June 27, and will see old metal mains replaced by plastic pipes. Long queues are expected as temporary traffic lights are erected to help divert traffic.