Drivers have been warned they will face delays over the next six weeks as work is carried out to stop pot-holes from developing in dozens of Norwich roads.

Work will start today on streets around the city as part of a �429,000 surface dressing programme being done as part of Norwich City Council's annual maintenance programme.

The work, which is expected to be completed by the end of August, involves placing a layer of bitumen and stone chippings on the surface of the roads.

A city council spokesman said: 'The work will improve vehicle braking and skid resistance, to help reduce the risk of accidents.

'It is also essential to protect the road from wear and tear by sealing it against water penetration.

'It will not reshape or repair a surface that is already uneven, although the contractor will carry out minor repairs such as filling potholes beforehand.'

The work was due to start today at Windmill Court in Catton Grove, and May Gurney workers, who are carrying out the surface dressing on behalf of the council, will work through street by street, in the weeks ahead, finishing at Weswick Street in Mancroft ward.

Householders and businesses living on a road that is to be treated will be notified via letter a few days before the work starts.

Council officers said people can help the work get carried out more quickly by not parking on the roads between 7am and 7pm on the day of the work, as well as the following day when sweeping will be carried out.

Roads will not be closed, but vehicle and pedestrian traffic will be managed and council officers said pets and children should be kept away from the work.

Bert Bremner, the city council's cabinet member for planning and transportation, said: 'The work is going to cause inconvenience in the short term, but it will be well worth it in the long run. 'If we did not do this work to fill in potholes and put in the dressing to hold the roads together, then I do not think some of them would last another winter.'

The government recently allocated �6.9m to Norfolk County Council for winter damage repairs to roads in Norfolk. As part of that, resurfacing work is currently being done in Unthank Road in Norwich, which is expected to remain closed between Trinity Street and Mount Pleasant, until Monday.

• Click on the link to the top right of this story to see if surface dressing work is scheduled for your road.