A section of Tower Road, in Sliema was closed to traffic yesterday as embellishment works on the thoroughfare began.

The road, between The Strand (Magic Kiosk) and the former Joinwell showroom, will be closed until October 26.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Rural Affairs and Resources said that no complaints were received yesterday and that most people had been informed of the alternative routes through newspaper advertisements.

"The ministry will be digging up trenches for utilities' infrastructure in order to cater for present and future demands.

The pavements will be re-laid in Porfido material and will be widened for better enjoyment by the people in the area," the spokesman said.

Following the embellishment works, parking along Tower Road will not be permitted and two unloading bays will be constructed for use by the commercial establishments there.

The road is not closed to pedestrians, who can still visit the outlets in the area. The ministry spokesman said business owners of the area had met with the minister to see how they would cope with three weeks of works.

Parents of children attending St Joseph School in Cathedral Street complained to The Times that the works started at the beginning of the school year when they could have been done in summer. The ministry spokesman said, however, that if the works were done earlier they would have disturbed tourists during the peak season.