STOURPORT motorists face months of road disruption next year when a £1.8 million project to repair water pipes begins.

The work, which will repair and replace 12 miles of water pipes underneath the town, was due to start this month but has been postponed to help traders during the busy Christmas period.

It will now start on January 3, with the first road closures taking place in Lickhill Road and Lombard Street.

Others that will be shut during the maintenance work, which is expected to last until April, include Moorhall Lane, Mitton Street, Tan Lane and Lichfield Street.

Andy Broome, acting manager for Worcestershire Highways Partnership in Wyre Forest, said the roads would be closed between 10 and 28 days over the three-month period.

He added: "Unfortunately, these works will cause some disruption but we are working with the organisations undertaking the work to keep this to a minimum."

Stourport businessman, Pete Roberts, who owns Pete's Prints in Bridge Street, attended a meeting last month when traders asked for a postponement of the works.

He explained: "There was no way we wanted any work to start before Christmas because it would have seriously interfered with trade.

"A lot of traders were angry that no consultation took place before it got to that late stage."

A spokeswoman for Severn Trent Water, the company responsible for the project, said: "The last thing we wanted to do is cause any disruption to business in the town around Christmas.

"That is why we decided to postpone the start of the project.

"We will work with the Worcestershire Highways Department if road diversions are deemed necessary.

"We do not take these decisions lightly and only make them for the safety of the public and workers."