GAS company Transco is to replace old metal pipes in Rodbourne Cheney and Haydon Wick, meaning possible road closures and delays.

The 18-week project, which starts on Monday, April 5, is part of a £15 billion nationwide programme to replace metal pipes within 30 metres of buildings with non-corroding plastic equivalents.

The Rodbourne Cheney scheme involves replacing two gas pipes on opposite pavements on Cheney Manor Road, between the Beech Avenue roundabout and the Rodbourne Arms.

Some sections of the road may be closed for safety reasons.

The work will then move to Mulberry Grove, Elm Road, Cypress Grove, Rowan Close and Holly Close.

More than 3,800 metres of pipe will be replaced, along with associated service pipes to each property on the route.

Also starting on Monday, April 5, is the replacement of 4.7 kilometres of old metal pipe and 430 service pipes along Thames Avenue, Severn Avenue and roads adjacent to them.

The majority of the work will be done using keyhole techniques to insert new pipe inside the existing pipe.

However, temporary traffic lights may be installed along Thames Avenue and Severn Avenue to control traffic.

Tim Sheppard, Transco manager, said: "We would like to apologise for any inconvenience this essential safety work may cause.

"We would like to remind children for their own personal safety not to play where we are fencing or remove any fencing or signing."