A ROAD between two Herefordshire village has shut today and will remain closed for nearly two months.

The B4349 between Clehonger and Kingstone, near Hereford, would be shut from Monday (August 23) until Friday, October 15, Herefordshire Council said.

The temporary closure of the road, 50 metres west of Smallbrook Farm, was needed so there would be safe access for contractor Balfour Beatty Living Places to carry out bridge saddling works, the council added.

But it will have an impact on bus services, with Yeomans Travel, based in Old School Lane, Hereford, revealing how it will cope with the “significant impact”.

“This will have a significant impact on our service 449 which will have to be re-routed and re-timed,” a spokesperson for Yeomans said.

Buses will operate a circular, one way, route out via Clehonger to Madley and returning to Hereford via Kingstone School, Kingstone village, Locks Garage and the A465.

“Passengers will be able to board and alight at any point on this temporary route for travel to any other bus stop,” they added.

“From the start of the new school term the school buses from south Hereford to Kingstone School will operate as they did last term but will run non-stop to and from the school via the A465 and Locks Garage.”

The diversion was signed as a 17.2km route via the A465 Hereford to Abergavenny road.