THOUSANDS of commuters face disruption as more than 300 bus journeys will be diverted next week as a main road in Weymouth town centre is closed for roadworks.

First, which operates buses in and out of the town, will be forced to divert services in Weymouth that use North Quay between Monday and Thursday next week.

The road is being closed due to the building work at the Harbour Junction, and the lane markings on the approach to the junction from Westwey Road are being altered.

During the closure, bus services 3, 6 and 8, with the permission of the Weymouth Harbour Master, will turn in the harbour slipway and return along Commercial Road, Swannery Bridge and Westwey Road, where services will stop opposite the Law Courts to serve North Quay and Asda.

There, services will continue on their normal routes from Asda traffic lights.

Service 501 will go via King Street, Swannery Bridge, Westwey Road, stopping opposite the Law Courts, and continue on the route.

Simon Newport, general manager of First Wessex, said: “We would like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience this closure will cause.

“We did ask Dorset County Council’s Highways Department to carry out this work overnight from 6pm, as this would only affect around 10 journeys as opposed to more than 300 journeys, which are used by more than 4,500 passengers daily.

“Unfortunately, it felt that it would be easier to carry out the works during the day.”

The routes will return to normal service on Friday.

Updates on First’s services while the roadworks take place are available from the website, firstgroup.com/ukbus/dorset or go to twitter.co.uk/dorset or facebook.com/FirstinDorset