Motorists across west and south west London, including Wandsworth, are being warned of heavier traffic congestion during the upcoming school half-term holiday.

Hammersmith Bridge, which connects from Hammersmith Bridge to Castlenau in Barnes, will be closed for eight days.

Neighbouring Hammersmith & Fulham Council, in partnership with Transport for London have announced the 130-year-old suspension bridge will be closed for maintenance work.

This will be from Saturday, October 21, at 5pm to Sunday, October 29, at an undeclared time in the morning.

Drivers will be diverted over Putney and Chiswick Bridges as a result and traffic delays are expected to be ‘significantly heavier’.

It will also affect a number of bus routes, including the 33, 72, 209, 419 and 485.

This is where they will be routed over the eight days:

- Bus route 72 will be diverted via Chiswick Bridge

- Routes 33, 209 and 485 will all terminate their journeys in Castlenau, which is south of the bridge

- And route 419 will terminate in Lonsdale Road, Barnes

Pedestrian access will still be maintained, however cyclists will be told to dismount and walk across Hammersmith Bridge or otherwise use alternative routes.

The works are said to be a ‘stopgap’ until a major refurbishment project next year takes place, which is said to last ‘many months’.

For more information, you can visit: www.lbhf.gov.uk/hammersmithbridge.