Drivers warned of delays as roadworks to begin in town

Motorists have been warned to expect disruption as road closures will be enforced during the week-long programme of work, which will cost 155,000 and is due to begin on Monday next week.

The scheme in Thirsk will be the latest stage in repairs to patch up North Yorkshire's roads which are still continuing more than six months after the worst winter in 30 years created hundreds of thousands of potholes.

North Yorkshire County Council is having to prioritise the roads which were worst affected and seen as the most strategically important; work has already been carried out in other areas including Selby and Harrogate.

However, the Yorkshire Post revealed last month that highways chiefs had admitted that they would struggle to complete the repairs before the onset of the coming winter as the bill for mending the potholes is expected to top 10m.

The council's executive member for highways, Coun Gareth Dadd, admitted that it would cost up to 40m to bring North Yorkshire's roads up to a "gold-plated" standard.

Speaking about the latest phase of repairs, Coun Dadd, who is also the divisional member for Thirsk, said: "There will inevitably be some inconvenience to motorists, for which we apologise.

"Every effort will be made to ensure the work is completed as soon as possible and that disruption is kept to a minimum. We are determined to repair the damaged caused last winter before the onset of the coming winter."

The major element of the scheme in Thirsk will be repairs to the carriageway, which will involve the closure of the A61 at night between the roundabout at the Sowerby Junction and the roundabout at the entrances to the Tesco and Lidl stores.

The road will be shut each evening from Wednesday next week between 7.30pm and 6am, while there will be traffic signals on the carriageway to allow works to take place during the day.

The A61 will be closed from 10pm on Saturday, September 18, until 9am on the Sunday for work to be done at the roundabout to the Tesco and Lidl outlets.