Westminster Council has said it is confident London’s Soho will be ready for Pride celebrations – after its main street was dug up by blundering engineers just days before the event.

Bosses said an “emergency reinstatement” of Old Compton Street would take place ahead of the event which is expected to attract tens of thousands from Friday.

UK Power Networks said on Thursday that the roadworks, which saw the street dug up with a JCB, would be “aborted… so everyone can enjoy themselves safely”.

Westminster Council told HuffPost UK it had despatched its highways team to ensure paving and tarmac was repaired in time for Pride, a festival which celebrates LGBTQ+ history and inclusivity.

It came after people spotted the extent of the works and questioned whether repairs could be made in time.

Old Compton Street is at the heart of Soho and is a focal point for London’s LGBTQ+ community.

Previous years have seen it host thousands of revellers across Pride weekend.

The event’s organisers, Pride In London, said it expects this year’s occasion to be the “biggest and most diverse” to date.

Westminster Council said: “The works on affected roads will be clear by Friday – we’ve made sure the area is ready in time for the weekend Pride in London celebrations.”