Work to protect Weymouth Harbour will have to be done on Saturdays – starting today – to keep the project on schedule.

Dorset Council says delays due to storms and 'difficult ground conditions' at the quay means the contractor will have to work overtime at weekends so it's all finished by the Christmas deadline.

Work started at the end of September to replace 76 metres of quay wall around the area of the ferry steps. Engineers are driving a new line of sheet steel piles, which are like an interlocking steel barrier, into the ground in front of the existing harbour wall.

Part of Custom House Quay at the Pavilion end is closed due to the works while some parking bays have been taken out of use and part of the Pavilion car park has been taken up by a works compound.

Contractor Knights Brown Construction has been keeping to weekday working, but delays mean it will now be on site on Saturdays too between 8am and 2pm.

Residents of Custom House Quay have been informed about the Saturday working.

Peter Christie, Dorset Council Project Engineer, said: “The project team are working hard to keep things on track. This work is vital to maintain our harbour walls.

"Saturday working is within the contract, but only used when absolutely necessary. In this case, the contractor is keen to not prolong the piling period and to complete the project before Christmas.

“I’d like to thank residents and businesses for bearing with us and apologise for any inconvenience.”

The piles are now being driven into the ground. The hammering in, which often causes the most noise, will only be done for short periods of the day, but the duration is dependent on the ground conditions, the council says.

The gap between the new and old piles will then be filled with concrete. The new structure will be capped with concrete and the quayside restored with equipment for mooring vessels.

Around £1.9 million has been allocated to maintain this section and another section of harbour wall near Nelson’s Wharf, which is also in need of repair.

Residents who have enquiries about the works can email WeymouthHarbourWalls@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk