Motorists will face further traffic chaos in Darlington town centre over the next few weeks - as more work is carried out on the ring road.

The borough council has been working on the road in recent weeks as part of its £6.5m pedestrian heart project, but motorists have suffered lengthy delays.

But the situation is likely to get worse over the next three weeks, as a stretch of St Cuthbert's Way is reduced to just one lane from tomorrow.

Transco will be laying a new gas pipeline at a section of the road, from the Stonebridge roundabout to the Haughton Road roundabout.

A council spokesman said the work was critical to the town centre plans.

"It's going to be a short-term inconvenience for long-term gain. This is work that has to be done," he said.