Rain has been blamed for delaying the reopening of a major Keighley road.

Busy Oakworth Road -- closed four months ago -- was due to open to through traffic this week.

But Yorkshire Water said wet weather had sunk hopes of completing the £800,000 sewer and water main replacement scheme on time.

A spokesman said: "Temporary lights should have gone up this week to enable through traffic to use the road again.

"However, that cannot happen until white lining is carried out, and unfortunately we are unable to do that in wet conditions.

"We are running a few days late, but we hope the traffic lights will go up today and that the road will be completely reopened in the next week to fortnight.

There is still resurfacing and some work on the clean water part of the scheme to be done.

"We apologise for the delays, but there will be major long-term benefits for customers in the area when the project is complete."

Last week Yorkshire Water, through the Keighley News, thanked the public and local businesses for their patience and co-operation during the work.

But some Oakworth Road traders claim the scheme could have been better managed and completed in a fraction of the time.

Bob Horrell, owner of Airedale Models, said: "Those doing the work have been extremely helpful -- I have no criticism of them -- but with more manpower and a bit more planning I believe the job could have been completed in half the time.

"Oakworth Road is a major route and for it to be closed for such a long period is unacceptable.

"I don't think the weather can be used as an excuse.

"Apart from the last week or so, conditions have been fairly good."

He reckons that business has slumped by up to 40 per cent during the road closure.

Craig Bradley, owner of Lund Butchers, agreed that work could have been completed much sooner. He said: "It's disgusting. No work has been done at weekends and the workmen have been off at four o'clock each day. The whole scheme should have been done and dusted by now."