ROAD users are being reminded that essential bridge maintenance work will be carried out on the M4 this weekend and the motorway will be closed in both directions between junction 12 (for Theale) and junction 13 (for Chieveley), from 10pm tomorrow, Friday, November 24 until 5am on Monday, November 27.

The work is part of a project to fully refurbish three bridges that carry the M4 over the B4009 Hampstead Norreys Road, Brocks Lane and Burnt Hill Road near Hermitage in West Berkshire.

For safety reasons the roads underneath the bridges will also be closed and local diversions will be in place.

The work is the first of four weekend closures.

Highways England project sponsor Andrew Winson said: "By carrying out the work on all three bridges together, in a closely coordinated way, we hope to keep disruption to a minimum.

"I encourage any drivers planning a trip on the M4 at the weekend to check ahead to see how they will be affected.”

Similar future closures are planned over the following weekends as the work is completed:

- Friday, December 8 to Monday, December 11

- Friday, December 15 to Monday, December 18

- Friday, January 12 to Monday, January 15, 2018

Highways England provides live traffic information via its website, trafficengland.com