CHANGES are in the pipeline for hundreds of residents as miles of gas main are replaced in a North-East town.

Seventeen streets in Middlesbrough will be affected and supplies to homes disrupted as an ageing, old iron main is replaced with modern, durable and long-lasting plastic pipe.

Harry Grey, network operations manager with United Utilities, said: "With work of this nature, it's inevitable that there will be some disruption and inconvenience for local people.

"We're sorry about that but we will do everything possible to keep it to a minimum."

The work involves renewing more than five kilometres of gas main in and around Aylton Drive, Acklam, Middlesbrough, as part of a £487,000 project to modernise the pipe network.

The work has been commissioned by the region's gas mains consortium Northern Gas Networks (NGN) but is being carried out by United Utilities, which is in charge of the day to day running of the distribution network.

Chris Gorman, network director for NGN, said the work was essential to ensure gas supplies remained safe for decades to come.

The scheme, which should be completed by the end of May, will involve replacing service pipes to hundreds of individual homes.

It has been planned with Middlesbrough Council