Motorists driving through Somerset at night face a diversion of up to 40 miles in the run-up to Christmas to allow key maintenance to take place.

Somerset County Council will be closing a mile-long stretch of the A39 Bath Road/ Main Street in Walton near Street overnight between November 21 and December 2, repairing a sections which is "showing significant signs of wear and tear".

During the closure – which will be in force between 6:30pm and 7:30am on weekdays – there will be no direct access between the M5 and Glastonbury.

Motorists will instead be diverted through Langport, Somerton and around the southern edge of Shepton Mallet – which could add up to 40 miles (or more than an hour) to their journeys.

The A39 will be closed between the junction with Berhill (east of the junction with the A361 Taunton Road) and the junction with Bramble Hill, near the Walton Gateway public house.

The work is being carried out at night to reduce disruption, with access for residents and businesses being maintained throughout and the road being reopened during the day and at weekends.

Councillor Mike Rigby, portfolio holder for transport and digital, said: "It's vital we get this work done to ensure the road surface does not deteriorate further.

"We have been able to fit this difficult scheme on a busy road into our maintenance schedule at a time when we believe it will have the least impact – after carnival season and before the Christmas season.

"We do understand there will be disruption and our team will do everything they can to minimise this. Our team will be in touch with residents and businesses in the immediate area to ensure they have all the information they need.

"Please do check the details on the diversion and plan ahead if you use this route regularly during the night times."

Initial details of the diversion have been published on the council's Travel Somerset roadworks portal.

Those wishing to access junction 23 of the M5 from Street will be diverted along the A361 through Glastonbury town centre, join the A37 south of Shepton Mallet and turn right on the B3153 at the Lydford-on-Fosse crossroads.

They will then follow the B3153 through Somerton to the outskirts of Langport, before turning on the A372 toward Bridgwater and rejoining the A361 near Ashcott – a journey of just under 40 miles.

Motorists wishing to reach Street from the M5 will be signposted along the same diversion in reverse.

Bridgwater residents may remove a few miles of their journey by using the A372 Westonzoyland Road, but this will not be signposted as part of the official diversion.

For more information on this diversion and other roadworks in your area, visit www.travelsomerset.co.uk/roadworks.