Drivers have been warned they are likely to face months of disruption when work starts to add a bus lane to one of the city's busiest roads.

As part of a £1.45m scheme, which will see a major shake-up in the way traffic uses Norwich's city centre, a bus lane is to be added to Grapes Hill.

The bus lane will be on the southbound (uphill) carriageway and verges are being removed so there can still be two lanes alongside it.

The work, which will cost £222,000, is due to start on Monday, April 28 and is expected to last for 12 weeks.

Bosses at Norfolk County Council said the road will remain open during the work, but lanes will need to be closed for safety reasons, which is likely to cause delays.

The new bus lane forms part of a £1.45m project which county council bosses say will improve the reliability and punctuality of the city's bus services.

The 'Transport for Norwich' scheme will also see cars banned from St Stephens Street and part of Surrey Street, while buses will also be able to travel in and out of the city via Chapel Field North.

Changes have already been made to the Chapelfield roundabout as part of the project.

Campaigners had hoped to secure a High Court judicial review of the decision to make Chapel Field North two-way.

They said the noise and vibration of an endless flow of heavy traffic would threaten the foundations and fabric of some of the most attractive and historically important homes in the city.

But judge Elizabeth Cooke rejected all their arguments.

• What's your view on the traffic shake-up? Write, giving full contact details, to Letters Editor, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE.