A BARROW road could be closed for up to three weeks after an 80-year-old clay pipe burst.

The section of Friars Lane in Barrow, close to the Coral bookmakers' shop at the junction with Gleaston Avenue, has been closed since Tuesday after highways engineers discovered a clay pipe under the road.

Although the ownership of the pipe remains unknown, with United Utilities confirming it does not belong to their network, Cumbria County Council is replacing the pipe to allow the road to reopen.

During heavy rain, the road had been known to suffer from standing water and damp patches, and the replacement of the pipe, said to date back to the 1940s, will prevent the problem returning.

The road is set to remain closed until at least Sunday although the Evening Mail understands work is not set to take place over the weekend and so is expected to continue into next week.

A diversion is in place using either Flass Lane or Gleaston Avenue to access Roose Road.