EAGLE Brow should reopen early next month, according to highway chiefs.

The road has been closed for massive refurbishment and resurfacing work since early this year.

But now, the centre of Lymm is set to reopen - in time for the village to be the centrepiece for a Granada TV show on September 15.

Staff will be working around the clock and at weekends to ensure that the bulk of the work is completed by then.

The £500,000 project has been the subject of controversy, with shopkeepers blaming a fall in trade on the closures.

Clr Sheila Woodyatt said that she has been assured by highway chiefs that the road should be reopened.

She added: "The work is going extremely well at the moment.

"It has been very difficult for the village but when it is completed, the village will be enhanced.

"It is a good tourist attraction and Lymm will welcome the people back."

While all the work may not be done, Eagle Brow is likely to be reopened for traffic and the pavements are also nearing completion.

The project has been beset by troubles in recent weeks.

Freak flash floods damaged the drains, meaning United Utilities had to be called out to fix the problem.

And contractors removed historic sets from beneath the road surface before destroying them - much to the anger of residents.

The closure has also re-ignited the debate about whether Eagle Brow should be permanently closed to traffic.