MOTORISTS face further misery on the A35 in west Dorset with more night time road closures set to bring disruption for residents and businesses.

Periodic closures between the hours of 8pm and 6am are planned from the Axminster to Bere Regis stretch of the main route between September and November.

The latest works to be announced follow on from the overnight works that took place on the A35 between Axminster and Bridport in the summer from June 27 to July 18, and between Bridport and Dorchester from July 19 to July 31, as well as works on the road in March, April and May.

Alex Mawhood, landlady of the Clockhouse Inn in Chideock - which is alongside the A35 - was shocked to hear that more works are due to take place.

She said: "With this pub, we do get a lot of locals and foot traffic which we are very fortunate to have.

"We do get a lot of people passing through from Dorset, Devon and Cornwall for a bite to eat or a drink, and it will add extra time for motorists and will impact business for sure, but fortunately it's only temporary."

Forthcoming A35 closures will take place on the following dates:

Axminster to Bridport between September 23 to October 5; Honiton to Axminster between October 7 to October 17; Monkey's Jump Roundabout to Stinsford Roundabout between October 25 and October 29; Stinsford Roundabout to Bere Regis Roundabout between October 29 and November 1; Bridport to Dorchester between November 11 and November 13.

National Highways says the works are part of the annual maintenance surfacing.

It says the company that is responsible for the operation and maintenance for the A30 and A35, Connect A30/A35 Limited and managing agent contractor SWHBBIS, will be carrying out additional investigations and roadworks as it comes to the end of its 30 year contract, which began in 1996.

After 2026, the responsibility of the route will be handed back to National Highways.

Additional investigations and resurfacing works, planned as part of the end of contract works, will be undertaken where they have been identified.

A spokesperson National Highways said: “Additional investigations and maintenance work where necessary, is being undertaken before the route is handed back to National Highways.

“Unfortunately, this requires additional closures of the route so work can be undertaken safely and efficiently.

“The work is scheduled overnight when traffic flows are low to cause the least disruption, and every effort is being made to minimise disturbance to local residents and road users during the closures, including combining works, scheduling works to avoid known busy times, and permitting local resident access wherever possible.”