SOME 200m of new pipework has been laid so far during a nine-month project to replace water mains in Wokingham.

South East Water started its �2m programme to upgrade 7.1km of pipes two weeks ago and is currently working in Station Road and London Road.

James Smith, delivery manager for the company, apologised for disruption, and said: "The gangs in both locations have been working extremely hard and are making very good progress.

"In Station Road, where we have a road closure in operation, we have managed to lay enough pipework to move one set of closure barriers away from the Wellington Road junction to a point between the public car park next to the Molly Millar Public House and Alderman Willey Way.

"Moving these barriers will make it easier for those wishing to access the public car park and local businesses." Sometime between August 27 and September 6, the company will go back into the south western end of Station Road at the Wellington Road junction to connect the new water mains to the existing network.

During this work, the company expects to partially reopen Station Road to one-way traffic. Motorists will be able to travel north east towards Shute End but traffic from Barkham Road will be unable to turn right into Wellington Road.

Motorists will be able to continue travelling north west along Wellington Road as normal.

In London Road, work is being done outside St Crispin's School, and the temporary traffic lights have been removed to allow two-way traffic.