Drivers in Wells are being warned to brace for disruption from today as major gas works get underway in the city centre.

Wales & West Utilities has kicked off the final phase of its gas pipe upgrade in the Queen Street area, with closures now in place on Southover and Becket Place. The work is expected to last five weeks, running until Friday 8 August – unless engineers hit unexpected problems.

The company first began the upgrade back in March and says the current phase is essential to keep gas supplies safe and flowing to homes and businesses in the area.

The focus now is on replacing ageing gas mains under Southover, which is closed between South Street and Silver Street for the duration of the works. Becket Place is also affected by a full closure.

Wales & West Utilities has promised signage and support throughout, but admits the disruption won't be ideal.

Simon Lee, who is managing the project, said: "We know working in areas like this is not ideal, but it is essential to make sure we keep the gas flowing… and make sure the gas network is fit for the future."

"We'll have a team of gas engineers on site throughout to get it done as safely and quickly as possible."

The company worked with Somerset Council to plan the timing and avoid clashing with major events in the city, including the summer tourist season.

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Residents are being urged to allow extra time for journeys while the closures are in place. Wales & West said its customer service team is on hand for any queries on 0800 912 2999, and updates will be posted on social media via @WWUtilities and Facebook.

The company delivers gas to 7.5 million people across south-west England and Wales and says keeping the network modern and safe is vital – even if it means a few traffic headaches along the way.