VOCAL villagers have proved that people power can succeed after a utility firm showed a little Christmas spirit by putting off roadworks.

Rita and Barry Knight run the Mason’s Arms pub in Wadborough, near Pershore, but were left speechless after a two week road closure was announced for the busiest month of the year.

Mrs Knight said that while she understood the electrical cabling works by Central Networks were important, she could not understand why they had picked the run-up to Christmas time to do it.

Now the company has decided not to dig up the village roads until next year – to the delight of villagers.

Mrs Knight said the roadworks would have disrupted Wadborough’s only bus service which villagers and her customers regularly use, particularly to do any festive shopping.

However, during roadworks, buses would have been diverted to the east end of the village meaning a 15-minute walk to the nearest bus stop for anyone in the west end of the village.

“We’ve got 40 people booked in over the period and are expecting a lot more, as we do quite well in the run-up to Christmas.

“But when I found out about the closure I was dreading it, so we got in touch with Central Networks. Villagers have done the same. Many of our customers are pensioners and they rely on the bus if they want to have a drink at the pub, so it would have hurt our trade.

“I can understand the works needed to be done, it was just the timing.

“Now they’ve changed their mind, we are absolutely delighted.”

Although Worcestershire County Council is responsible for maintaining most roads and pavements, Central Networks are by law allowed to carry out any essential works such as those planned for Wadborough when they please.

However, in practice, the two organisations talk to each other to make sure works cause the least amount of disruption.

Central Networks said they had been unaware there was such strong feeling against the works happening in December and have now postponed them until next year.

The county council said the company had been “very co-operative” and shown “understanding”

once residents’ concerns were pointed out.

A Central Networks spokeswoman said: “Our project manager did not realise the pub’s business or the bus service so it’s been decided the work can wait.

“Often we can help if people talk to us and we’re happy to listen to their concerns."