VIDEO: Frustrated landlord makes Benny Hill style clip to show 11 MILE road diversion

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You

can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Richard Greenwood said the suggested route is "ridiculous" and sends people five-and-a-half miles in the wrong direction to a closed road.Patrons trying to get to his newly-renovated Chetham

Arms, near Bolton, Lancs., then have to find their way back and he said business has slumped by a quarter because of it.**WARNING: FLASHING IMAGES IN VIDEO**Mr Greenwood sped-up video

includes the theme tune from iconic British comedy The Benny Hill Show, revealing the spiralling 11 mile route.He said: "It is just ridiculous. I've got no issue with the road closure. These

jobs need to be done."But our customers from Bolton think Chapeltown Road is closed and are going up Darwen Road and five-and-a-half miles out of the way."We have noticed a drop in trade of

about 25 per cent and we've only just had a refurbishment."Normally, when you have that, you get a boost as people come in to see what the place is now like, but the opposite has been

true."The problem began when renovation work started on a nearby railway bridge and a sign was erected claiming Chapeltown Road was closed.

A pub landlord has made a Benny Hill style clip highlighting an 11 mile road diversion[CASCADE]

Drivers were subsequently sent on an 11 mile diversion.Mr Greenwood's clip ends by claiming the issue could be resolved by instead putting a detour through the nearby Edgeworth area. Network

Rail and Blackburn with Darwen Council both claim the other is responsible for the confusing signs.A council spokesman said it was true that it "signed off" the diversion route but that it

was a "Network Rail issue".Mr Greenwood said his complaints saw a "businesses open as usual" sign erected at one end of Chapeltown Road.

Richard Greenwood says his pub has seen business decline by a quarter [CASCADE]

However, this does not resolve the issue of people still believing the street is closed.He added: "If you follow the diversion round Darwen Road you can't get back into Chapeltown because

the road is shut. It is a bit of a farce really and it has affected trade."The building work began on August 18 and the road is set to be shut until December.Ian Joslin, area director for

Network Rail, said: "This work is essential to extend the safe use of the bridge and reduce the amount of maintenance required in the future. "We have carefully planned the work to be

completed in the safest and quickest way and apologise for any inconvenience caused."

See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive.