THE words of the Christmas story "there's no room at the inn" almost had to be changed to "there's no beer at the inn" as a Prestwich pub faced a festive dilemma.

Business partners Irene Sharples and Nina Power, who run The Grapes Inn, in Bury New Road, could not get into their cellar for the weekly beer delivery after workmen piled soil over the door.

And the pair are fuming after United Utilities workmen dug a trench outside the pub's front door, and a customer fell in.

Irene said: "We had to start shovelling dirt off the barrel dray at 7.30am on Monday (Dec 23). The deliverymen were ready to go away and leave us without beer for Christmas. They realised the problem and were very helpful but it would have been horrendous if we couldn't receive the delivery."

She added: "They have left us with such a narrow access to the pub that there is sure to be another accident."

Businesses in nearby Warwick Street have also complained after Bury Council closed the road for repairs. Silver Cove jewellery shop owner Mrs Julie Woodruff said: "People assume they can't get to the shops as they can't get their car down. We have lost so much business in the run-up to Christmas."

A spokesman for United Utilities said: "We can only apologise to the landlady for any inconvenience. In a bid to get the job done quickly, it would seem some soil has been put where it shouldn't have been. The job is now finished and everything should be tidied up."

He added that barriers had been placed around the hole according to health and safety regulations.