WORKS are due to start on roads close to a city school including a new zebra crossing and footways.

Southampton City Council has revealed a new programme of works to improve transport alongside the expansion of St Mark's Church of England Primary School in Shirley.

In June last year, work began in the area to create the city's first school to combine both primary and secondary education.

The project is worth £39.9m and now the council has said a new Zebra crossing will be crated on Howard Road and continues footways will be put in place at the Stafford Road and Suffolk Avenue junctions with Howard Road alongside the works.

Work on this is set to begin on September 6, going through several phases meaning that there will be various closures throughout the construction.

In phase one work will take place on the South of Stafford Road between 7am and 5pm for a total of two weeks from September 6.

Phase two will see the north of Stafford Road undergo works on the western side of the road from September 20 for one week between 7am and 5pm, as well as work on the eastern side of the road from September 27 for one week between 7am and 5pm

In phase three Suffolk Avenue will be affected for two weeks from October 4 for two weeks between 7am and 5pm and phase four will entail overnight resurfacing and line marking but dates and times for this part are not yet known.

A council spokesperson said the changes will "provide safer crossing facilities and make it easier and more attractive for people to walk and cycle in the area."

More information and updates on this can be found at transport.southampton.gov.uk