Contractors will be back in a village early in the new year to complete a £1.3m upgrade of the water mains.

The work follows extensive disruption in Main Street, Cross Hills, near Keighley, in late 2006 and early this year when new gas mains were fitted.

Balfour Beatty Utilities Ltd is expecting to start work on Monday, January 7, following preparatory work which has already been carried out.

The company hopes to complete the project for Yorkshire Water within seven weeks.

The aim is to upgrade the mains infrastructure and improve both the quality of water and the reliability of the supply in the village.

"However, we know Cross Hills has already had to put up with a fair amount of disruption over the past 12 months and, with that in mind, we will be doing everything possible to limit inconvenience on the roads," said Yorkshire Water project manager Lee Boshell.

"We've worked closely with North Yorkshire County Council's highways team throughout the project and we're grateful for their help and guidance.

"This is the final stretch and we're hoping customers will bear with us for the next few weeks while we complete the work."

Peter Whitaker, whose butcher's shop is in Main Street, said people did not want to face the same chaos which occurred in 2006 when a scheduled six-weeks of gas work lasted 21 weeks.

"That had a big effect on trade and we are hoping it won't be the same again," said Mr Whitaker.

"At the end of the day the job has to be done, but we hope that in making the estimate of seven weeks they have taken into account any pitfalls they might come across."

From January 7, temporary traffic lights will be installed at the junction of Main Street, Keighley Road and Station Road and at the junction of Main Street and Wheatlands Lane.

Schools have been warned in advance to give parents time to plan ahead and drivers are warned to anticipate delays.

People likely to be affected by the work will be warned in advance by card but businesses and homeowners are still warned to be on their guard if they are approached by strangers claiming they need to be allowed into private premises and to request identification.