Drivers entering the centre of Wallingford face diversions during three weeks of road closures.

St Mary's Street will be closed for five days from January 11 while contractors work on sewers and telecom cables. The work is part of the redevelopment of 50-51 St Mary's Street to provide new shops and flats.

Hart Street will also be closed for 20 days from January 16, so that scaffolding can be put up during re-roofing of a building at the junction of Hart Street and St Mary's Street.

County council area engineer Brian Short, who is co-ordinating the road closures, said there was a statutory right of access to carry out such improvements.

He had asked the contractors involved to undertake the work over the same period to try to minimise disruption. He added: "Unfortunately, whatever work needs to be done in somewhere like Wallingford is going to cause inconvenience to people."

During the closure of St Mary's Street, traffic will be diverted along High Street, Croft Road and St John's Road.