A busy Halesowen road is set to close for a month causing "absolute havoc" for motorists.

Grange Hill will close in a southbound direction from Monday October 25 until Friday November 19 while Western Power carries out work to lay cables.

The road will close between the A456 Manor Way and 17, Grange Hill.

The power company started work in the road last September, but was ordered to stop by Dudley Council after temporary traffic lights on Grange Hill caused severe disruption.

Due to Covid and other works in the area (on Mucklow Hill and Manor Way) and the fact that the works affect Worcestershire and have to be agreed with the county's authorities they have been delayed until now.

Councillor David Vickers, who is deputy council leader, said he had been told the council didn't want works to continue into the Christmas period as this would have a detrimental effect on local traders.

But that the power company needs to complete the work as soon as possible as it has already suffered a significant delay.

He said council officers have assured him they will be monitoring the works and will take any action they deem necessary.

Cllr Vickers said: "It's going to cause absolute havoc regardless of if it's Christmas or not.

"The amount of cars that come down the hill, to send them all around - it's crazy - but I can't really see any other way of doing it.

"People are not going to be happy."

The diversion will be via Manor Way (westbound), Hagley Road A456, Hagley Hill A456, Birmingham Road A456, Stourbridge Road A491, Sandy Lane A491, Money Lane B4551, Bromsgrove Road B4551, and Grange Hill B4551.

The closure is to enable Western Power Distribution to install 126m of cabling and carry out 10 electrical connections to the new cable and the existing power network.