Work is continuing on the £36.4 million Hawick Flood Protection Scheme.

The project, which is currently in the outline design phase, will aim to protect homes from flooding from the River Teviot.

As part of the scheme, a section of Commercial Road between North Bridge roundabout and Bruce Motors will be closed for three weeks from Wednesday, 25 January. Diversions will be in place.

This will allow the project team to confirm the suitability of the road structure for future flood defences along the road, which is part of the A7 road.

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Cllr Gordon Edgar said: "The Council realises this will be a major inconvenience to some people in the town and beyond but these works are vital to taking the Hawick Flood Protection Scheme forward.

"The project team need to know the current condition of the road structure in order to take forward suitable flood defences for this part of Hawick, which has previously been badly hit by flooding from the nearby River Teviot.

"The project team, SBC roads department and Transport Scotland will monitor the closure throughout its duration to ensure the diversion route is working safely and effectively."

The overall development has already received the first tranche of funding from the Scottish Government, which has provided an initial £1.34m. If approved, the Government will provide 80% (£29.2m) of the overall schemes costs.

(LM/MH)