HIGHWAYS chiefs are hopeful that the Whittlesey Wash can re-open this weekend - 24 hours after closures to the Welney Wash Road were lifted.

Norfolk County Council re-opened the A1101 Welney Wash Road yesterday evening after flood water levels receded. However, the B1040 between Whittlesey and Thorney remains closed due to flooding.

However, a Cambridgeshire County Council spokesman said: “The water is receding slowly and the road is being inspected regularly and the debris cleared from the areas which are no longer flooded.

“We are hopeful we will be able to reopen it soon - maybe even over the weekend depending on any further wet weather or snow.”

However, those hopes of re-opening the road could be dashed by forecasts of ice and snow which are set to batter the country this weekend.

Temperatures are forecast to drop to -1C overnight Saturday and -2C overnight Sunday - and the Met Office has issued a weather alert for snow on Monday.

• The council spokesman also responded to complaints on Twitter about roadworks at Pondersbridge being carried out while other roads in the area are flooded.

He said: “The Pondersbridge work is to install a new electricity supply cable and has nothing to do with the county council.”