REGENERATION bosses last night outlined the timetable of work for the long-awaited widening of Liverpool’s Edge Lane.

By the end of the month, Liverpool Council hopes to have received a high number of expressions of interest to carry out £25.6m of work on the busy route.

A shortlist of five or six contractors will be drawn up and the contract will be awarded in October, with work expected to start next spring.

The road widening is the first part of a scheme to regenerate the west end of Edge Lane, which will eventually include a health centre and new homes.

City leaders are keen to press ahead with the much-delayed project after campaigner Elizabeth Pascoe lost her battle with the authorities to save her home off Edge Lane in the high court in March.

Last night, they said hoardings have been placed around some empty houses for safety reasons.

About 370 homes in Edge Lane and surrounding streets must be pulled down for the scheme to proceed.

The Daily Post understands demolition work is not likely to start for another month to six weeks at the earliest.

City authorities have now acquired all but 48 properties, of which around 12 belong to owner-occupiers.

Officials could use a compulsory purchase order to force homeowners out of their homes within 28 days, but they stressed that would only be used as a last resort.