WORK to ease congestion at a Hampshire bottleneck has been delayed until after the August Bank Holiday period.

The Highways Agency has announced the rescheduling of the improvement work on the roundabout between junction nine of the M3 and the A34 at Winnall, Winchester.

The agency says that waiting until after the holiday period will minimise disruption.

Work on the £500,000 scheme had originally been planned for late July. It is expected to take about five weeks.

The scheme involves putting in traffic lights at the roundabout at the Easton Lane junction and widening the carriageway width to three lanes.

The carriageway will also be widened to three lanes on the eastern side, near Spitfire Link, and the lanes on the southern bridge will also accommodate three lanes.