A KEY road for a Herefordshire town is being shut until Christmas for gas main repairs.

West Malvern Road is being partially closed from November 17 until Christmas so Cadent can replace an important pipe.

The road, used mainly as a route over the hills and down to Upper Wyche, Little Malvern and Ledbury, already has cones and signs up warning residents and drivers of the closure.

The main sign reads that the road "will be closed from November 17 for 38 days."

Worcestershire County Council confirmed the work via social media.

The road will be closed from the B4232 West Malvern Road from its junction with U63556 Lamb Bank to its junction with U66409 Croft Bank.

In June this year, an underground gas leak forced the road's closure while Cadent repaired the pipe.

First Bus has had to divert its 656 and 657 services between Malvern and Ledbury via Wyche Cutting, Belle Vue Terrace and Rose Bank Gardens.

A diversion will be in place while the latest work is carried out.

It will be open for frontages to homes with no other access.

This will go via Lamb Bank, the A449 Worcester Road, Wyche Road and back onto West Malvern Road.