DRIVERS are being told to expect delays while a £725,000 scheme is carried out on a busy Wear Valley road.

Work starts on Monday on a stretch of the A689 between Binchester Lane Ends and the Coundon Gate roundabout, leading from Spennymoor to Bishop Auckland.

Durham County Council highway engineers expect to spend ten weeks with kerbing, drainage and footpath works, traffic calming measures and carriageway resurfacing.

Environment director Chris Tunstall said all residents and businesses in the area have been informed.

He said: "The works will be carried our under various traffic management arrangements, including traffic lights, lane restrictions and road closures during the resurfacing phase of the scheme, and of course we will do what we can to keep disruption to a minimum.

"It is envisaged that the road closures will only be required towards the end of the contract and those affected by the closures will be notified nearer the time."