MOTORIST have been warned to expect delays as six weeks of roadworks start on a major Poole road today.

Engineers will be working to widen the footway on the north side of Dunyeats Road and removing the existing signalised pedestrian crossing and replacing it with three new zebra crossings.

This means a one way closure of Dunyeats Road, with no vehicles able to travel westbound from Gravel Hill to Broadstone, will be implemented for the duration of the works.

There will also be turning restrictions at the adjacent side roads with traffic only being able to turn out on to Dunyeats Road and head towards Gravel Hill.

A number of phased full road closures will also take place in short sections to allow Dunyeats Road to be resurfaced.

Diversion routes will be in place via Darby's Corner and Lower Blandford Road.

BCP Council transport and infrastructure cabinet member Cllr Andy Hadley said: "Our focus is on delivering this major improvement scheme before the schools go back at the beginning of September.

"We appreciate this work will cause some unavoidable disruption to road users and would ask motorists to allow extra time for their journeys and use an alternative route when possible."