Bridge to shut for three nights for roadworks

Pedestrians and drivers are being warned to plan ahead as a town's bridge is set to close for three nights.

The Grade I listed six-arch Sturminster Newton Bridge in north Dorset over the River Stour is being resurfaced following the installation of new traffic lights.

Dorset Council said the lights at the junction of the single-lane bridge, which sees a high volume of traffic, needed replacing as they were "very old" and had become difficult to repair.

Bridge Street (Sturminster Newton Bridge) and the A357 Newton Hill will be closed on Thursday and Friday from 20:00 to 06:00 GMT and then Saturday from 20:00 - 08:00.

Dorset Council said the footway closure over the bridge during the overnight surfacing works was needed due to the narrow widths and "large equipment that will be operating".

The roads will reopen with three-way lights still in place while the full works - started on 10 November - are completed.

Work on the bridge due to finish by 19 December.

The authority said the resurfacing work had been tagged on to the end of the signal works to minimise further disruption.