Slater Lane in Moss Side has been closed while works are carried out to replace the road surface.

But the closure means buses cannot get to the semi-rural community which has a large number of elderly people.

One resident claimed they were unaware of the closure until they waited at a bus stop – for a bus that never arrived.

Retired prison officer Chris Bishop, of The Laund, said: "I went to catch a bus at the Black Bull, but after 20 minutes we gave up.

"Anyone who wants to catch a bus has had to go to Dunkirk Lane.

"We've been completely cut off with no buses at all coming onto the estate."

He said warning signs had been put out along the stretch of road, but none indicated the lane would close.

Three services – the 111 to Preston, the 115 to Leyland and Penwortham and the 112 to Wymott Prison – have all been affected.

Resurfacing work is also taking place in Fox Lane, but there the council has opted for shutting just one side of the street at a time – something Mr Bishop believes should have been done on Slater Lane too.

A spokesman for transport firm John Fishwick and Sons said: "We were given information saying that the road would be closed but that was not what the signs on Slater Lane said. The whole of Moss Side was cut off. There was no way for us to get down there."

Alan Doherty, of Lancashire County Council's environment directorate, said: "We consulted with the contractor about not having to close the road, but because we had to work in the middle of the road it needed to be closed."

l Meanwhile, major disruption is expected when a vital road is completely closed in Walton-le-Dale.

Hennel Lane will be closed for two weeks while resurfacing work takes place on the road. The street will be shut between Chorley Road and the A6 London Way in Walton-le-Dale until August 15. A signed diversion will be in place.

l Works are also being carried out at junction 31a of the M6 from Monday, closing the slip roads between 8pm and 6am.