£14m water main 'ensures supplies' in South East

A £14m water main to be laid across part of Surrey will boost resilience during drought, a water firm has said.

Sutton and East Surrey Water said work on laying the new strategic pipeline was expected to start this spring.

Most of the route goes through farmland and countryside and also under two railway lines and three A roads.

It said the 10.5 mile (17km) pipeline would ensure supplies across its area which covers parts of Surrey, West Sussex, Kent and south London.

The route goes from the company's Outwood reservoir to Buckland pumping station.

Community drop-in sessions have been held in Salfords and Buckland, where the pipeline goes under the railway lines, and a third session will be held in Outwood on Monday.

Water project manager Kevin Shilling said: "We are conscious that this essential main laying may cause some inconvenience to those living nearby, especially where traffic management is required.

"We will try to limit this as much as we can."