PLANS for a £2.5m upgrade of up to 80 miles of water mains in lower Wensleydale will be detailed next week.

The work will involve Yorkshire Water engineers either cleaning, relining or replacing the mains network in Bedale and Masham and surrounding villages, including Kirklington, Snape, West Tanfield, Pickhill and Patrick Brompton

Earlier this year, samples of water mains were taken to determine their condition. The results meant that about ten miles needed to be replaced, almost 33 miles relined and 38 miles cleaned.

Work has already been completed in Crakehall and engineers are at present in Leeming Bar.

Yorkshire Water project manager Dean Williamson said: "This is a major improvement scheme for lower Wensleydale.

''There will be some disruption, but we ask residents to bear with us until this scheme is completed by the end of the year.''

A customer forum is being held in the ballroom at Bedale Hall on Tuesday, between 4pm and 7pm.

Yorkshire Water intends to hold another customer forum in Masham nearer to the start of the upgrading work.