The full closure of a road serving one of Swindon's major villages has been extended a further two months.

Wanborough Road - which connects Covingham and Wanborough - was closed to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians on June 6 and was expected to reopen on September 9. 

Contractor Conlon Ltd has been digging up the busy route as part of the Redlands Grove housing development, but the discovery of an ancient Roman road directly underneath it has caused problems. 

Swindon Borough Council issued an update on Facebook, even though the local authority is not behind this particular project. 

Swindon Advertiser: The roman tracks found under Wanborough RoadThe roman tracks found under Wanborough Road

The post said: "As you can see from the pictures, Conlon has found significant Roman remains, such as an extended Roman trackway, on various areas of the site. Archaeologists are currently working with the contractor to document the extent of the finds.

"This means that Conlon is now looking to reopen the road in early November, but this may be extended depending on what the archaeologists find."

This means that Wanborough residents and people using businesses - including many pubs - in the village will have to go an extra two months without being able to use one of the major roads in or out of the village. 

The council added: "Conlon and other contractors have a legal right to do this work and we appreciate residents are facing disruption as it happens.

"We’d like to remind people that businesses in the area are still open, and a signed diversion is in place."

Swindon Advertiser: Wanborough residents have had to travel the long way round to Poplar's NurseryWanborough residents have had to travel the long way round to Poplar's Nursery

The work includes the installation of new highway drainage, street lights and a footpath for the Redlands Grove development which will form part of the New Eastern Villages. 

This news comes after the revelation that the New Eastern Villages project, which will bring 8,000 new homes to the east of the A419 is already £12m over budget due to delays in the council's road infrastructure work to get the area ready for the new homes.

A report to Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet says officers predicted a £12.278m overspend on the programme’s £74m budget, taking the current projected expenditure to £87m.

Of that, £1.4m is overspending from Nythe Road junction and Piccadilly roundabout, £550,000 from Gablecross and £10.3m from the new Southern Connector Road which will go from South Marston to the Commonhead Roundabout.