Wales and West Utilities’ £225,000 scheme to replace 500 metres of old metal pipes starts on Monday along Torquay Road, Courtlands Road and Forde Park Road.

The work to install new, long-lasting plastic pipes with a lifespan of more than 80 years, will take about 11 weeks to complete and will be carried out in four phases.

Wales and West Utilities have worked with Devon County Council highways officers in a bid to minimise disruption to road users.

However, the work will still involve lane closures and temporary traffic lights on one of the major routes into and out of the town.

Wales and West programme controller Barry Sale said: ‘We know that working on roads like this one is not ideal but it is essential in supporting the area in the future.

‘We’ll have a team of gas engineers on site throughout the project to make sure the work is completed as safely and as quickly as possible while keeping disruption to a minimum.

‘Replacing old metal gas pipes is a complex job and depending on what we find when we start work, our plans may need to change.

‘We will make sure local people are kept updated of our progress.’