RESIDENTS face a four-mile detour around a village following the closure of a level crossing.

People living in Barlaston will be forced to clock up the extra miles over the festive period while Network Rail carries out routine repair work at the railway crossing in Station Road.

The work, which includes the installation of new LED warning lights and barriers, is due to start later this evening and will continue until 6am on December 27.

Work will start again at 11pm on December 31 until 9am on January 1 when the work is due to be finished.

But the closure of the level crossing means residents will now have to go via the Wedgwood Drive crossing in order to get to the other side of the village.

Peter West, manager of the Plume of Feathers pub, in Station Road, claims trade over the festive period will be hit because of the closure.

The 28-year-old said: "It will affect our trade because the delivery vans will have to drive all the way round, but there is a height and weight restriction at the Wedgwood crossing so the vans might not be able to pass that way either. That means the drivers will have to go all the way through Blurton to get to us which could mean late deliveries at one of our busiest times of the year."

His dad and landlord of the pub, John, aged 52, said: "All the traffic will be diverted around the village and the residents won't be able to cross so some people might not even bother coming in at all because they won't want to go all the way round.

"We are open every day over Christmas and New Year and it's one of the busiest times for us."

Network Rail's initial plans for the work included the closure of both crossings, however, after pressure from Barlaston Parish Council, the company decided one should remain open.

Parish council chairman, Gareth Jones, of Tittensor Road, said: "It is a difficult situation because from a Network Rail point of view, the work is very much needed, and the best time to do it would be over the festive period as there will be no service trains running.

"However, the closure of the line will mean that the village would be cut in half which is a concern."

The train company will offer an escort service from 11pm tonight until 2am on Christmas Day to allow people who wish to attend the Christmas Eve services at the village churches to cross.

This means staff will be on hand to supervise residents walking over the level crossing before the track is completely closed off to the public.

Mr Jones added: "We were concerned that it would cause major problems so we got onto Network Rail and eventually we came up with a compromise where they could still allow cars to pass at Wedgwood.

"It could still be an issue for pedestrians who are unable to drive but at least people can access both sides of the village some way."

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "We are completing the renewal of the level crossing in Barlaston which will include the installation of new LED warning lights and new motors which control the barriers.

"We will also be replacing the barriers themselves and looking to renewing a stretch of the actual railway line.

"The renewal of the Station Road equipment will take place from 11.30pm on Christmas Eve until 6am on December 27 and over the New Year period, however, motorists will still be able to use the Wedgwood crossing throughout the holiday period."