Work on installing a sewer on a major Bradford road has been halted because water workers found their underground map was wrong.

Yorkshire Water started three weeks ago to put in the sewer on the main road through Queensbury, the A647, with temporary traffic lights set up near West End and Ford Hill.

But last week it finished and the lights were taken down.

Karen O'Rourke, spokesman for Yorkshire Water, said this was because the 6ft-diameter sewer would have to be placed in a different spot to originally planned.

She said a large amount of work, including laying a length of sewer, had already been done and would not be wasted.

The problem arose because of plans which showed where other services in the ground were.

"When we came to dig, unfortunately the services were not where the plans showed them to be. We are having to move the pipe and put it in a different place," she said.

Because they were going to have to move the pipe, it meant the road would have to be closed for health and safety reasons while the work was done.

Ms O'Rourke said the company was going to apply to Bradford Council to close the road.

"We can't just shut the road - we have to liaise with the Council's Highways Department and there's at least a six-week waiting period.

"We are going to meet the Council this week to discuss the way forward."

But a local councillor and business owners said they were worried about the effect of the closure on residents and traffic.

Councillor Michael Walls (Cons, Queensbury) said he appreciated the work had to be done, but had concerns about the road closure.

"It needs looking at carefully to minimise the impact for the people of Queensbury, people who pass through the village and residents who live on the road where diversions are going to be."

He said he wanted to be involved in discussions about the closure to represent the interests of the residents.

"My main concern is what they are going to do with the traffic when they close the road off."

Coun Walls said businesses could also suffer if motorists could not park outside.

Damian Myers owns Phoenix Pets and Garden Supplies at West End, Queensbury, which would be directly affected by the closure.

He said it was a worry, especially as many customers drove to his shop. "A big part of my business is people pulling up in their cars as a lot of the things I sell are quite heavy."

Mr Myers said he hoped he might be able to claim compensation for any loss of business but that would be after the event.