A Swindon petrol station has unexpectedly closed at the start of the new year.

The fuel station at Sainsbury’s supermarket on Paddington Drive in Bridgemead which is used by many residents.

Sainsbury’s closed the petrol station on Tuesday and it will remain shut until Friday, January 26.

But the supermarket remains open, the chain confirmed.

Sainsbury's revealed the reason for the month-long closure as maintenance with scheduled improvements taking place at the kiosk.

A spokesperson said: “The petrol station at our Bridgemead store is temporarily closing while we make some improvements.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and we look forward to welcoming our customers back to the forecourt when it reopens later this month.”

Construction work at the site had already commenced on Tuesday morning with photographs showing the petrol station cordoned off by metal fences.

Workers were spotted patrolling the forecourt with traffic cones also dotted around the area as the maintenance got underway.

Sainsbury’s store at Bridgemead will remain open as usual while these works are carried out and its other fuel station in Swindon on Oxford Road also remains functioning.