DRIVERS in Richmond are being warned of delays as a gas company returns to an area where there was traffic chaos two years ago.

Transco will start work laying 500m of pipeline in Darlington Road from Monday.

The work, from The Avenue to Frenchgate, is expected to last six weeks, during which traffic lights will be in operation on part of the route.

Transco said it has worked closely with local authorities to minimise disruption, but said some delays will be inevitable.

Transco network officer Neil Wilkinson said: "We apologise to drivers for any inconvenience caused by this vital work and thank them for their patience."

Similar work by the company in August 2002 meant drivers adding up to 40 minutes to their journeys because of three-way traffic lights at the bottom of Gallowgate.

Richmond councillor Clive World fears the problem could be just as bad this time.

He said: "It is the main entrance into Richmond and it is going to cause huge traffic problems. Why they cannot do this at another time of the year, I do not know."

Transco said it will spend £58m in the region this year to replace iron gas pipes with modern plastic ones that last longer.

A total of 500km of iron pipeline will be replaced across the North this year.