Traffic will be diverted onto a new road layout and roundabout in the Wroughton area this afternoon as the Wichelstowe Southern Access scheme nears completion.

Temporary traffic lights will be in place while this is done to prevent road closures and the layout should be open by tomorrow afternoon.

A new road that connects Wharf Road, Hay Lane and the eventual new Southern Access Road up to Wichelstowe has been created as part of the scheme.

A Swindon Borough spokesman said: "If you regularly travel through Junction 16 of the M4 or the Wroughton area, you may have seen work taking place around Hay Lane and Wharf Road for some months.

"As part of the Wichelstowe Southern Access scheme, work has been underway to create a new road layout that will connect Wharf Road, Hay Lane and the eventual new Southern Access Road up to Wichelstowe.

"It will eventually provide residents with a new route into Wichelstowe beneath the M4.

"It will help support 4,500 new homes, the new district centre and will also unlock 12.5 hectares of employment land, supporting around 2,000 new jobs."

The scheme will provide the fourth access to the Wichelstowe development and is a requirement of the planning permission for the wider Wichelstowe site.