ESSENTIAL highway drainage improvements are being carried out from next week along the A358 in Combe Florey.

Somerset County Council is upgrading drainage grips along the eastern verge of Williton Road, at Yarde Farm.

The scheme will allow surface water to better drain off the road surface and help reduce future highway flooding.

The scope of the work is the result of a successful liaison between the local landowner in the area and the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) and Somerset County Council.

No road closure is required as the work will be carried out under temporary lights and a lane closure from Monday (March 20) to Friday, March 31.

Two-way traffic will be maintained throughout. Lights will be in place between 9am and 3pm Monday to Friday.

All restrictions will be removed outside these hours and at the weekend.

Cllr Mike Rigby, Somerset County Council’s lead member for transport and digital, said: "It’s pleasing to see the joined-up approach with local stakeholders to get these much-needed improvements over the line.

“The work will remain open to traffic throughout and will take place before traffic volumes increase due to the Easter holidays to minimise disruption as much as possible.”

There have been a number of recent mudslides on the stretch of road that have caused closures and significant disruption.

Two flooding incidents in August and September last year occurred after heavy rain produced run-off from fields that resulted in tonnes of soil slurry and potatoes onto the road at Combe Florey.

A closure and major clear-up operation was needed on both occasions.

Then on December 20 another smaller incident occurred in the same location, which also resulted in a road closure and slippage of an embankment on the West Somerset Railway.

READ MORE: Clear up operation after mudslide at Combe Florey.