Falmouth’s main street will be closed for traffic this weekend to protect the safety of the public.

Contractors carrying out essential gas main and associated works in the street have announced that they will be unable to open Market Street, Church Street, Arwenack Street to any traffic over this coming weekend due to safety issues.

This will also result in the closure of the Church Street car park.

Since work began again in the New Year the road has been closed to traffic during Monday to Thursday, but opened again between Friday and Sunday to allow shoppers easier access into the town.

The extended closure this weekend is because of the gas main works being carried out by Wales and West Utilities Ltd, around the car park entrance and exit.

Town manager David Pollard said the size and amount of pits currently in the street meant they could not be safely plated over to allow traffic to drive over the pits at the current stage of work.

Therefore, the pits and surrounding areas had to be protected by safety barriers for the benefit of pedestrians.

Mr Pollard said: “Naturally, the contractors are making every effort to ‘fast track’ their work wherever possible and will endeavour to reopen the road to through traffic for the weekend of January 23 to 25, if safety issues and work commitments permit.”

Pedestrian access will remain along the whole of the street and the free shuttle bus connecting the Quarry car park with Market Strand will continue to operate on a regular timetable this Friday and Saturday.