TWO busy streets in Hereford city centre are to be closed to traffic for six weeks this summer.

Widemarsh Street and High Street will be closed during July and August to enable gas company Transco to carry out a £305,000 scheme to improve gas supplies.

Starting in April, the project will see the two metal mains running through High Town replaced with new plastic pipes.

The work will be carried out in five phases, starting in Commercial Street and then moving on to Commercial Road, St Peter's Square, High Town, Widemarsh Street, Eign Gate and Victoria Street.

The scheme has been planned with Herefordshire Council in an effort to cause the minimum of disruption to motorists, traders and shoppers.

The work will be suspended for the week of the city's annual May Fair but is due to continue until November.

Engineers will be explaining the project and answering questions at a roadshow, due to be held in High Town on Thursday, March 25.

Transco's project manager, Paul Jones, said: "The is a major mains replacement project.

"To ensure this job runs smoothly, we are liaising with the many organisations that operate in the town centre.

"It is essential work to ensure the safety and reliability of the gas supply to the town centre and we ask the public to bear with us while the work is in progress."

Diversions and signposts will be put in place while the work is being carried out.