MOTORISTS using one of the busiest roads in the New Forest are facing five nights of disruption.

The A337 at Barton on Sea will be closed overnight from Monday to enable engineers to resurface the carriageway.

The work will take place between its junctions with Barton Court Road and Old Milton Road between 8pm and 6am the next day.

A Hampshire County Council said the scheme was part of Operation Resilience, a multi-million-pound project to improve roads.

He added: "The repairs are part of the county council's long-term strategy to make Hampshire's roads more resilient to extreme weather and increasingly heavy traffic.

"The county council will be working to keep disruption to local residents to a minimum and use resources in an effective way."

At the same time, a team from Dorset County Council will resurface the road from Chewton Glen Bridge to the roundabout at Ringwood Road.

The joint approach was welcomed by Cllr Sean Woodward, Hampshire County Council's executive member for economy, transport and environment.

He said: "I'm really pleased we're able to improve the A337 for the long term while minimising disruption to the travelling public by making sure that essential works on both sides of the county boundary are done at the same time."

Diversions will be in place throughout the work, with signs advising motorists of the closures.