TRAFFIC chaos is set to descend upon Sandford, Wareham and beyond as major road works clog the main artery into Purbeck for more than a month.

The A351 through Sandford and Wool is the busiest rural road in Dorset, and the main route from Bournemouth and Poole to Wareham, Wool and Swanage.

Its failing surface needs urgent repair from Pottery Roundabout, just north of Wareham, northwards to the roundabout at Holton Heath.

It will mean shutting it down to one lane, and even closing it altogether, sending traffic on a lengthy diversion.

Purbeck District Councillor for Wareham David Budd said: "It's certainly going to cause some traffic chaos in the area, but these things need to be done and we have to endure some pain while they are under way."

Sue Elmes, mayor of Wareham, said she had been contacted by numerous people worried about the impact.

She said: "Journeys will be much longer - it's going to affect everybody."

Debbie Weller, clerk at Wareham St Martin Parish Council, said: "There is no other way around it.

"We just have to make people aware of it and avoid it when possible."

Work will commence daily, 7.30am to 5.30pm, from October 8 until November 18.

During the first two-week phase, as Pottery Roundabout is repaired, the B3075 Morden Road will be closed to through traffic and two-way signals will control traffic on the A351 Sandford Road.

Phase two, until October 28, will see the stretch north of the roundabout to Sandford Middle School tackled, again using two-way traffic signals.

Works are planned near the two schools during half-term week.

From Monday, October 29 to Sunday, November 11 special engineering difficulties will require a full road closure from Sandford Middle School roundabout to the Organford junction.

Residents' access will be arranged.

The final phase, November 12-18, from the Organford junction to just south of the Holton Heath roundabout, will again use two-way traffic signals.

Ian Foulger, principal engineer at Dorset County Council, said the work was essential to stop the road breaking up.

He added: "We appreciate that the work will cause disruption for motorists, but would ask people to bear with us until the work is completed."