DIVERSIONS to the main A386 through Tavistock will be set up for a day early in the New year, when Dolvin Road is due to be closed temporarily.

The road will be closed outside St Rumon's Infants School on Monday January 5, to allow a temporary classroom to be removed from the school grounds using a heavy crane.

School secretary Sue Gawman said the removal of the classroom was part of an exciting project to create a new foundation unit at the school.

Mrs Gawman said: 'I think it's going to be quite a mammoth task to remove the hut. It's at the back of the school, so it's going to have to be craned up over the top of the building. It will be a huge crane — that's why the road has to be closed.'

The temporary classroom is the school's old 'red class'. A major project to create the new foundation unit, complete with an 'imaginarium' including water and sand features, is due to be constructed next summer at the school.

The road closure means south-bound traffic will be directed along Mount Tavy Road; Violet Lane; Green Lane; Down Road; Whitchurch Road and to Abbey Bridge. North-bound traffic use Bedford Square; Duke Street; Brook Street and Parkwood Road, where it will then rejoin the A386.

Access to properties will be maintained where possible — any problems should be reported to the local service office at Okehampton on 01837 52773.