EMERGENCY roadworks are taking place today (Thursday) to repair a collapsed manhole in central St Albans.

The collapse was picked up as part of a safety inspection and work will be carried out under temporary two-way traffic lights.

Stuart Pile, executive member for highways and transport, said: “We would never plan to have traffic lights on one of the main routes into the city during the busy Christmas shopping period. But hopefully the community will appreciate that this work is an essential safety repair. We hope it will be completed quickly.”

The traffic lights will be in place overnight and are expected to be removed early tomorrow morning.