DRIVERS could face disruption during improvements to a busy road.

The £350,000-plus scheme on the A691, east of Lanchester to Durham, is due to start early next month.

The main part, expected to take ten weeks, will begin on Monday, September 2, and will involve rebuilding a stretch of highway from Durham Road in Lanchester to Warriors Bridge.

Engineers will strengthen the carriageway from Warriors Bridge to east of the Malton junction.

They will also improve footpaths and drains and review signs, road markings and facilities for pedestrians, disabled people and buses along the route as far east as Kaysburn, near Langley Park.

Durham County Council expects in the early stages that two-way traffic will continue, but during surfacing traffic lights will operate Mondays to Fridays, after 9am.

The surfacing will affect access to nearby roads.

People in some properties have been given advanced warning of the scheme.

Durham County Council's director of environment and technical services, Chris Tunstall, said: "There will inevitably be some disruption to normal daily life but the contractor, Tarmac Ltd, will help in keeping this to a minimum.''

For further information call the council's Highways Action Line on 0191-370 6000.