Motorists travelling through Somerset's county town face delays and diversions this autumn to allow vital repairs to take place.

Somerset County Council will be carrying out resurfacing and drainage improvements to the A38 Wellington Road in Taunton town centre in two phases between early-October and early-November.

The road, which has been prone to localised flooding in the past, provides a vital link between the town centre and Wellington via Musgrove Park Hospital, as well as the nearby village of Trull to the south.

The council has advised local residents and commuters to allow more time for their journeys, especially on and around Hallowe'en.

The stretch of the A38 to be upgraded runs from the junction with the A3807 Castle Street (near the town's Tesco supermarket) to Compass Hill, near the entrance to Parkfield Drive.

During the first phase, drainage improvement works will be carried out under temporary traffic lights near the Castle Street junction between October 4 and 7.

In the second phase, this stretch of road will be closed for resurfacing every weekday evening between October 24 and November 5.

The closure will be in force from 6:30pm to 11:30pm, with a diversion being signposted and access for local residents and businesses being maintained throughout – including access to Trull Road towards the Blackdown Hills area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).

Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for transport and digital, said: "This is a priority scheme to repair sections of the A38 which need urgent attention, and it includes vital drainage work on a flood-prone section of road ahead of the winter months.

"Our team had to hold this scheme until the upgraded Toneway Creech Castle junction was operational; carrying out work on what was part of the diversion route for that scheme would have led to unacceptable delays.

"We're now in a position to press on and get this work done, but we are of course mindful the first part of the scheme in particular, with temporary lights on Wellington Road will cause some delays, and we'd urge people to plan ahead.

"We will work to minimise this as much as possible, but ultimately we have a duty to maintain the highway and ensure it is in a proper state of repair."

For more details on this scheme or other roadworks taking place in your area, visit www.travelsomerset.co.uk.