A LANDLORD who spent £45,000 revamping his pub, says roadworks on his doorstep are ruining trade.

Graham Rowson, of the Royal Oak Pub in Plungington, has slammed North West Water for failing to fence off dangerous holes in the pavement outside his door.

But he said the water company put safety barriers around the works immediately after the Citizen began investigating his claims.

He said: "I told them I was going to the press about this and immediately they came around and put safety barriers up - but it's still dangerous and I feel absolutely disgusted with the way I've been treated.

"The roadworks have been there for a month now and no one wants to do anything. I have phoned them a dozen times in the past fortnight and every time they've promised to do something the following day."

Last Friday Graham and his wife found a man, who was not drunk, stuck down a hole outside his pub.

He said: "The police came along and took a while to remove him - with children on holidays I am very worried that something more serious may happen."

Graham, who moved to Preston five months ago, has spent £45,000 on his new pub but is watching it become dirtier by the day.

"My cleaner has to work longer hours to get all the mud and tar that's been left by people visiting my pub.

"The state it's getting into is a disgrace and all because some firm is not doing a proper job."

A North West Water spokeswoman said: "We are aware of this problem and we intend to keep a close eye on it.

"The reason for the wait is that we have to wait to reinstate the new tar - we are sorry for any inconvenience."

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