MOTORISTS are being informed of diversion routes that can be used when a section of a busy road closes for a fortnight from tomorrow (Monday).

The A358 just before Eastcombe, near Combe Florey, is being closed to traffic 24 hours a day for a fortnight to enable urgent repairs to be carried out.

Drivers are being advised that the main diversion is through Bridgwater.

But light cars should be able to use the back road from the bend at Bagborough to Bishops Lydeard.

Alternatively, they could go through Combe Sydenham and turn left on the Bishops Lydeard Road.

The A358 at Combe Florey is deemed to pose a hazard to road users.

Emergency repairs are needed to a damaged embankment beside the road.

The 24-hour road closure will run from Monday (January 25) until Friday, February 12.

A recent inspection established that the highway verge between the road and the embankment had collapsed into a stream close to the highway and was causing cracks in the road surface.

The team will clear vegetation and trees near the stream which have caused it to flow into the embankment. The normal flow will need to be restored to stop the damage.

Significant clearance of the area with an excavator is needed followed by the installation of wire cages containing rocks, known as gabion baskets, to secure the embankment.

Cllr John Woodman, Somerset County Council’s cabinet member for highways, said: “Our teams needed to act quickly to deal with this potentially hazardous situation.

“This is one of the county’s main arterial routes and we appreciate the work is going to cause some delays.

"But the safety of road-users is paramount. For the next two weeks we’d encourage motorists to plan ahead.”