WORK tackling litter, repairs and overgrown hedges on the Wessex Way has begun.

Three days of work on the major road has started as part of Bournemouth Council’s £1million Smart Streets programme.

From today until Wednesday, teams will be pruning vegetation and trees, gully cleansing, removing weeds, undertaking minor carriageway repairs and deep cleaning channel lines and road signs.

Work begins at 9.30am each day with teams working until 4pm to avoid peak traffic times and minimise disruption.

The task will start at Blackwater junction up to the Cambridge Road roundabout.

Stuart Best, street services manager, said the work was a “major operation” because of the traffic management issues involved.

Cllr Michael Filer, portfolio holder for transport, cleansing and waste, said: “The Wessex Way is arguably the one route that almost everyone in the town uses each week and is the first impression visitors get coming into Bournemouth.

“It is important that it is being prioritised by our Smart Streets programme to ensure Bournemouth’s busiest road is looking its best.”