DRIVERS should brace themselves for severe delays on the A1 in North Yorkshire later this month.

A stretch between Holtby Grange and Leeming Bar will be down to one lane in each direction for about four weeks and disruption is inevitable.

The work is part of a £1.4m scheme to resurface one mile of the A1 which began this week.

Over nine weeks, essential repairs and strengthening work will also take place on three bridges along the route and minor improvements to Leeming interchange will be done to boost safety. Where possible, work will be done at night to minimise inconvenience to drivers.

But starting on Saturday, October 19 for some four weeks, the one-lane operation begins for 24 hours a day.

Speed restrictions and contraflow will also be in place during different phases of the work.

The Highways Agency is warning motorists to expect severe delays.

Project manager Shaun Cullumbine said: "This preventative maintenance work is vital to keep the A1 in satisfactory condition. At this time of year we expect nearly 50,000 vehicles a day to travel along this stretch and lane closures will unfortunately cause delays.

"We are trying to minimise disruption by working at night and we have done all we can to warn the public to expect delays by sending out 10,000 leaflets and through an advertising campaign.

"However, we advise drivers to avoid the area if at all possible, especially for the four weeks from October 19 or consider an alternative route to avoid the A1 at Leeming Bar."