ROAD users in Kendal are bracing themselves for a year-long stretch of disruption caused by major gas replacement works which begin in the town centre next week.

On Monday, National Grid begins work on a £750,000 scheme to replace five kilometres of Kendal's iron gas mains with modern plastic pipes.

The scheme is expected to last for around 12 months and will take place in seven phases, the first of which starts at Stricklandgate and Sandes Avenue and is expected to last seven weeks.

Managing director of Stagecoach Chris Bowles said the coming year would be a "difficult time" for bus users in the town.

For full story and graphic showing the time-scale of the works, see the March 30 edition of The Westmorland Gazette.