TOWN centre roads closed following a sewer collapse could be reopened during the weekend.

Northumbrian Water hoped to complete its temporary repairs to a large hole at the junction of Crown Street and Priestgate, in Darlington, on Saturday, January 9.

A Darlington Borough Council spokeswoman said the work was due to be completed by Saturday. She added as soon as the work was finished, the council would reopen the road.

Crown Street, Priestgate and Prebend Row have been closed to traffic except for delivery access since a metre-wide hole appeared on December 28.

Buses have been diverted around a different town centre loop since the incident. The 400-space multi-storey Crown Street shopping centre has also been closed.