WORK is set to begin on a £450,000 scheme to improve the electricity supply to residents in a rural village.

Electricity North West will install three kilometres of new electricity cables to help power about 600 people living in Holcombe village.

The project, which will start on Wednesday, will take place along Helmshore Road, between the Shoulder of Mutton pub and Buckden Woods.

The new cables will be laid in eight weeks, and the road will be shut in sections while the work takes place.

Electricity North West has promised that access for residents and businesses will be maintained at all times and that any disruption will be kept to a minimum.

The work was originally due to start in January, but following consultation with residents, it was moved to summer so that bad weather would not cause additional disruption for residents.

Mike Selwesiuk, South Lancashire operations manager at Electricity North West, said: “These cables have been supplying power since the 1930s and by ensuring we invest in new cables local customers will continue to enjoy a reliable power supply for another 80 years.

“We had planned to get this work done over winter, but residents advised us that the weather can be difficult, so we agreed to move the work to the summer to keep disruption to a minimum.

"We continually invest in maintaining and upgrading the network across the North West to ensure we provide the best service to our local communities and ensure people continue to take electricity for granted in their homes and businesses.”