Motorists will be forced to drive more than 50 miles to avoid half a mile of roadworks this Bank Holiday weekend.

       Drivers in Norfolk will have to undertake a 52.2 mile diversion around the towns of Harleston, Bungay and Loddon - and the city of Norwich - to cut out half a mile of road.

       The A140 in Long Stratton is being repaired in four phases by council highways teams from March 25 to March 29 which will see part of the road closed from 8.15pm to 6am.

       The lengthy diversion will see motorists joining three different A-roads until they can reach Long Stratton.

       The single carriageway A140 has a speed limit of 30mph for several miles including through the centre of Long Stratton.

       A ￡46.2m project to take traffic away from the town was approved last September with works to continue until 2025.