SEVERN Trent Water is investing £60,000 to improve and replace water pipes in a village near Shipston.

Work to lay 120 metres of new pipes in Front Street started yesterday (Monday) and is expected to be finished by the beginning of May.

While the work is being carried out between the Red Lion pub and Foxcote Hill there will be two-way traffic lights on that stretch of road and people are being asked to find alternative places to park while this is done.

Jonathan Tait, of Severn Trent Water said: “A lot of the pipes in the area have been used for many years, and like many things do when they’ve been used for a long time, they’ve become old and fragile and sometimes break.

"During this work, the old water pipes will be replaced by new ones, which will be less likely to burst. This means we can continue to provide a reliable service for our customers in Ilmington.

“We’d like to say sorry for any inconvenience this causes to our customers. We don’t expect people’s water supply to be affected at this time. But, if there are likely to be any interruptions, we’ll give plenty of notice first.

“We understand this kind of work can be disruptive for the local community, especially when it involves traffic restrictions.

"In the long term, our customers should see the benefits, with a more reliable water supply for many years.”