ROADWORKS on the Harnham Bridge are set to overrun by about a month due to a gas leak.

The major maintenance and resurfacing work on New Bridge Road started on July 17 and were set to run for four weeks.

But now Wiltshire Council says the 85-year-old bridge will not be fully open to traffic until Monday, September 11, four weeks after the proposed end date.

A spokesman for the council said the delay was due to the discovery of a gas leak at the beginning of works.

Bridget Wayman, cabinet member for highways said: “We were always aiming to have the road reopened before the schools went back, but the unexpected issues mean we will unfortunately not meet that target.

"We are sorry about these extra delays, however we have done everything possible in an effort to keep disruption to a minimum as usual.

"This has included working longer hours and over the weekends. Motorists have also benefited from a temporary suspension of the works to allow unrestricted use of the bridge over the Bank Holiday weekend, which reduced the risk of delays to visitors to the Great Dorset Steam Fair.”