AN EXTENDED diversion will be in place over seven nights on the A1.

A section of the A1 at Thorntonloch, near Torness, south-east of Dunbar, will close in both directions for a total of seven nights.

The closures will be overnight on weekdays, between Monday to next Friday (July 5 and 9), and then on July 12 and 13.

However, due to a lack of a suitable local diversion route,  the authorities say that through traffic should avoid the A1 in East Lothian in its entirety and utilise a lengthy diversion from the Edinburgh City Bypass to the Berwick Bypass.

Drivers are being urged to plan ahead to avoid the closures.

Transport Scotland’s operating company BEAR Scotland is carrying out more than £130,000 worth of resurfacing improvements over the seven nights.

Almost 400 metres of carriageway will be resurfaced and made smoother and safer.

Work will take place between 7.30pm and 6.30am each night and is due to be completed by 6.30am on July 14.

The affected section of road will be closed to traffic in both directions during these hours.

A signposted diversion is in place between the Old Craighall Roundabout at the eastern end of A720 Edinburgh City Bypass and the Berwick Bypass on the A1, with the diversion operating via the A68, A697 and A6105.

It will add an extra 26 minutes and 6.6 miles onto affected journeys, BEAR Scotland says.

The emergency services will be given access through the works but other traffic will not.