Shoppers and traders in Oxford city centre are being warned to brace themselves for disruption as cable company ComTel digs up the streets.

ComTel is sending in six crews of workmen to install underground ducting and telephone exchange cabinets in the city centre from Tuesday.

Bosses say the work will last six to eight weeks.

But they warn that in the 'unlikely event' of it taking longer than expected, work will stop in December to avoid the Christmas shopping rush.

ComTel spokesman Claire Florey said: "We appreciate that this work will cause some inconvenience and we would like to thank all city centre residents and businesses for their co-oper- ation.

"We have done everything we possibly could to keep disruption down to a minimum."

City streets to be affected are St Ebbe's Street, Gloucester Street, George Street, St George Place, Longwall Street, St Cross Road, Holywell Street and Broad Street.

ComTel carried out work in Cornmarket Street last year. Queen Street is expected to be dug up after the New Year.

Crews will move into areas north and south of the city centre after completing the first stage of work, and are expected to stay there until spring 1999.

The cable company has worked closely with Oxford City Council to keep disruption to a minimum.

Most nuisance is expected in George Street, where two crews will be working, and at the junction of Broad Street, Holywell Street and Catte Street, where the cable operator may have to install a second set of traffic lights.

Work will start at 7.30am, Monday to Friday, and finish at 4.30pm. There will also be some Sunday work.

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