A BUSY route through the centre of a market town is to be closed later this month.

The C44 road through Newgate, in Barnard Castle, will be closed while workmen install anti-skid surfacing on the carriageway.

The work is intended to help vehicles travelling on the uphill exit from Butter Market Cross and to give larger vehicles greater traction when they are travelling downhill towards Bowes Museum.

The road will be closed on Sunday, June 30, between 7am and 5pm. However, that time may be extended or reduced depending on whether road workers deem the road fit for use.

Local traffic will be diverted via Wilson Street and Zetland Road during the work, and signposts will be put up to help drivers.

There will also be signposting on the A1, taking lorries off the road at Piercebridge, and on to the A66 and advising lorry drivers to follow a diversion on to the A67.

Drive information boards will be in place for up to two weeks before the road closure and signs directing out-of-town traffic to Bowes Museum will be in place while the road is closed.