ANGRY road campaigners and hotel chiefs have today hit out at a decision to conduct maintenance work in Weymouth just as the tourism season gets into full swing.

The work is expected to cause traffic problems on Dorchester Road, near Redlands, as part of a three-week programme of improvements starting on June 10.

Plans include major resurfacing on the Ridgeway, between Weymouth and Dorchester, and on a small section of Dorchester Road, near Manor roundabout.

Brown Route supporters believe the added tailbacks and extra traffic expected to crawl along the busy road, which is the main route into the town centre, will make the resort's congestion nightmare even worse.

David Woods, of the Dorchester Road Action Group, said: "It is going to be a case of people who live along the road throwing up their hands in horror again.

"The traffic chaos will again emphasise that the relief road is needed as quickly as possible."

The resurfacing on the Dorchester Road, by the Greenway Road junction, will take place on June 10/11 between 9.30am and 4pm.

Traffic lights will be in operation and vehicles will be directed around Manor roundabout in the opposite direction to help the flow.

The work takes place when Wey Valley School pupils are set to sit their GCSEs, with worried parents fearing the delays could affect their children's exams.

Roger Tipney, of Glendinning Avenue, whose son Gabriel is currently in year 11, said: "All pupils are on different timetables during the exams so they will be arriving and leaving at various times when the roadworks are on.

"The delays will do nothing more than add to the stress of the pupils and I'm worried their exams could suffer."

Wey Valley headteacher Marcia Headon said: "Hopefully these delays won't cause too much bother.

"We're advising pupils and parents to make allowances so they get to school in plenty of time."

Rita Coxon, of the Weymouth and Portland Hotel and Catering Association, fears the work will give visitors a poor impression of the area.

"It is an absolutely ridiculous time to start the work and I think the delays caused by the work will be detrimental to all businesses in the area, not just the ones in the hotel and catering trade.

"The weather in the winter was relatively good so the work should really have been done then," she said.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council senior highway inspector Toby Rouse said delays were expected and motorists were being asked to prepare their journeys well in advance.

"The first part of the resurfacing work will be done over two days at times outside of rush hour.

"Drivers should leave themselves plenty of time and I would urge people to be patient," he said.