WORK to repair the B3091 has been postponed until late October after concerns from local residents and traders.

The road's condition has worsened in recent months, so work was scheduled to repair and resurface the route, from Hosey Bridge to Shaftesbury Road, Manston.

Roadworks were due to start tomorrow, but now will not take place until the autumn.

The B3091 was scheduled to be closed from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, until Tuesday, April 26, at the same time that Haywards Lane in Child Okeford is closed for a bridge replacement.

Andrew Martin, Dorset County Council head of highways, said: “Following concerns from residents and businesses in Child Okeford, we’ve agreed to postpone our resurfacing work.

“Although other routes were remaining open, closing Manston Road would’ve caused significant inconvenience for drivers travelling between Child Okeford and Sturminster Newton. 

“We will need to carry out patching repairs before the resurfacing work in October, to ensure that the road remains in a safe condition, but these have not been scheduled yet.”

The resurfacing work will now take place after the bridge work in Haywards Lane has been completed.