MAJOR roadworks are to be suspended so Sunderland football fans can travel to matches.

Traffic restrictions on the city's Wearmouth Bridge will be temporarily lifted to minimise disruption to supporters travelling to Sunderland's Saturday matches against Manchester United, on August 31, and Fulham, on September 14.

Engineers plan to open the bridge to four lanes of traffic by adding temporary surfacing. Work will restart immediately afterwards to ensure it is completed before the Aston Villa game, on September 28.

Traffic is currently restricted to one lane in each direction while the bridge is waterproofed and re-surfaced.