WORK is due to start today to replace more than 2.5km of gas pipeline in Groundwell Road, Swindon.

Traffic delays are expected as gas company Transco begins the 13-week, £330,000 scheme, which involves replacing old metal pipe with a new plastic type. The work will also affect Regent Circus, Clarence Street, Princes Street and Victoria Road.

Project manager Tim Sheppard said: "For almost all of the project we will be using modern key-hole techniques to insert the new pipe inside the existing pipe. This will help keep disruption to a minimum and speed our work up.

"We are working with Swindon Council's highways department to help minimise the disruption. While we hope not to use traffic lights some lane closures in the one-way system may be necessary.

"As part of the project, engineers will be calling at more than 230 properties on the route to arrange to gain access so we can replace the service pipe. This work will be carried out free of charge and everyone's help and co-operation will be much appreciated."

He added that the firm wanted to remind all householders, as part of its commitment to stamping out bogus callers, to study engineers' ID cards. If in doubt about cards, he said, customers should check by calling Transco's emergency freephone number on 0800 111999.