ROADWORKS are set to bring new year misery to a Dorset village, locals claim.

People living in Maiden Newton fear six weeks of disruption is on the cards because of repairs to the main road through the village.

They claim businesses will be hit when the work - due to be carried out by Dorset County Council - gets under way in late January.

Residents have been told plans for the work on Church Road mean there will be no vehicle access through the heart of the village.

Traders fear they will be hit hard by the planned repair works which will see the road surface lowered because highway bosses have deemed it at the 'end of its life'.

Cherri Johns, who has run the village's post office for 21 years, says she is dreading the start of the repairs.

"Many people in the village are not happy about this planned work - I don't think the highways people realise the knock-on effects of this," she said.

"Church Road is the main road through the village and having built up the post office over 21 years I'm very upset about it.

"This work is probably a bit over the top and I think it's going to hit businesses in Maiden Newton quite hard.

"There are a lot of pensioners who come to the post office from quite a distance away to pay their bills and other things.

"They rely on cars to get here and it's unfair they won't be able to do that.

"I would not say the situation will force me to close but I'm certain I will lose a lot of trade."

Church Road resident Andrew Duke said the announcement of the work had surprised people in the village.

"Most of us are concerned about the problems this could cause," he said.

He added: "Church Road is the heart of the village, it features the village shop, baker's, post office and much else.

"If people can't park because of this work it is going to cause much disruption."

Dorset County Council district highways engineer Kevin Cheleda said the authority is working with electricity and water bodies to try and minimise disruption.

Mr Cheleda said he had discussed the issue with Maiden Newton Parish Council and ruled out the possibility of a partial closure with traffic lights because of road width.

He added that pedestrian access would be maintained throughout Church Road.

"The road is at the end of its life and desperately needs this work," he said.

"In many ways, this will be short-term pain for long-term gain for Maiden Newton.

"We hope to minimise any disruption and apologise in advance for any inconvenience when the work starts on January 24."