DISRUPTION brought about by roadworks has led to a market day being suspended.

Major works are taking place on Market Street in Dalton to replace an ageing gas main.

Nearly two weeks in to a six-week road closure, the Dalton market day has been temporarily halted.

A spokesman for Dalton Town Council said: "The roadworks currently being carried out on Market Street are having a detrimental effect on the footfall on the Tuesday Market and a decision has been made to temporarily postpone the market until the road is fully open again."

A market day returned to Dalton earlier this year, with traders gathering to show off their wares in Tudor Square.

Neil McDougall, from the Cumbrian Coffee Co, had the idea to restart the market to help struggling stall owners during the pandemic.

Cadent Gas is carrying out the works on the section of road from outside the Masons Arms to Tudor Square.

A spokesman for Cadent Gas explained why the works were necessary .

He said: "Our North West network of gas distribution pipes runs to 34,000,000 metres – if placed end to end, they’d go from Cumbria to Sydney, and back again.

"This year, we’re upgrading around 485,000 metres of our older pipes.

"This includes over 8,300 metres in the Barrow Council area and over 5,000 metres in South Lakeland.

"We replace around the same amount of pipes every year, as part of a 30-year programme to upgrade our older metallic mains.

"This work will ensure a safe distribution network well into the future.

"More than 83 per cent of homes in the Barrow area have gas central heating.

"Modernising the network in this way also helps get us ready for the introduction of cleaner gases like hydrogen, which is essential to achieving net zero.

"The work in Dalton is a key part of this year’s programme."

Congestion caused by the closure of a major road has been described as 'carnage'.

Motorists have been warned to avoid driving through the town if they can and instead use the official diversion of the A590