Work on a £1.4m sewerage scheme in a seaside town is about to get underway.

Yorkshire Water say that work on the project in Whitby will take until the end of March to complete.

It involves replacing five existing storm overflow chambers, or combined sewer overflows (CSO's), in and around the town centre and surrounding areas.

Three existing CSO's will also be upgraded to prevent storm and sewage-related debris entering streams, rivers and becks.

One of the new chambers will be built the centre of the Esplanade on West Cliff/Crescent Terrace where two-way traffic lights will be in place for the duration of the work.

Another CSO the size of a squash court will be built in the grounds of the golf course on Upgang Lane.

Yorkshire Water project manager David Parkin said: "This project is aimed at further improving and enhancing Whitby's sewerage system and we will be working on this particular project for three months, finishing before the start of the 2004 tourist season which will begin at Easter.

"These chambers will retain storm water and the screens fitted inside them will limit the amount of debris entering local watercourses. This scheme is all about improving the environment and, even though it will cause some disruption while work is underway, it will be well worth it in the end."