AN £11 million project designed to clean up watercourses will begin in July after more talks.

The work in Wigan Road, Leigh will help prevent litter from the sewer system getting into local watercourses via Westleigh Brook and was rescheduled for summer after concerns were raised that the area was already affected by bridge work on Nel Pan Lane.

The job at Wigan Road/Siddeley Street is one of several in the Leigh area to improve overflows in the sewer system. These overflows operate like "safety valves" during heavy rainfall when water from roads and rooftops drains into the sewers.

United Utilities project manager Russell Baker said the work will involve building more storage capacity in the sewer system to reduce the likelihood of overflows. Screens will also be fitted to sieve out any sewage litter and sanitary products if the overflow needs to operate.

He said all avenues had been explored regarding the siting of the overflow system but underneath Wigan Road was the only possible location due to the engineering of the existing sewer system.

Mr Baker said storage system maintenance should not create problems: "It will involve an annual inspection which will take less than a couple of hours to carry out and that could be carried out early on a Sunday morning.

"We're not going to be digging up the road every year. We will be doing everything we can to ease the pain and will be holding further discussions with local people and traders before the work begins in July. This is essential work, which will bring real environmental improvements for everyone in the area."

And he said United Utilities would help lay on a shuttle bus service if there was a demand.

Mr Baker added: "We are planning a meeting with myself and Cllr Whiteside, residents and business people. There are a elderly people in the area and they may not necessarily want us to work on Sundays whereas business people want us to get the job done as quickly as possible. We need to consult with everyone.

"I am affected as I will have to go home to Lowton every night. But the work needs doing -- we have to do it by law. We will work with residents as much as we can. Our claims department are in consultation with the businesses regarding loss of profit."

The project forms part of the company's £3 billion water quality and environmental improvement programme between 2000 and 2005, the largest investment of its kind in the country.