A section of road linking north and south Wales is to close intermittently for around six months while work is carried out to fix a bridge in a village near Newtown.

The overnight closure at Caersws Bridge on the A470 trunk road will be in place between November 22 and May 20, the Welsh Government has announced.

The road closure from the entrance to Caersws Recreation Ground and the junction with Severn Street will be in force between 7pm and 6am on an intermittent basis.

Local people have raised concerns about the effect the road closure may have on their businesses.

Kath Matthews runs The Unicorn Hotel which will be around 50 metres away from where the road will be shut to traffic. She said the "ridiculous" overnight closure will impact business.

She said: "People are not going to get into Caersws and they'll bypass us to Newtown. If people don't know the backroads, they're just going to bypass us and it will affect the village."

Temporary traffic lights have been in place near the bridge for at least six months.

"The lights are affecting us now because the drivers are driving so fast past the pub and houses before the lights change red," Kath added. "No-one takes notice of the speed limit, they just fly past. They're racing past the pub."

The alternative route is almost 15 miles for motorists travelling from Llanidloes who be will diverted along the A489 to Dolfor Road Roundabout, north-eastbound A483 to Kerry Road Roundabout, west bound B4801 to the Newtown McDonald's Junction, then north-westbound on the B4568 through Milford Road and Aberhafesp to rejoin the A470 north-west of Caersws near Llanwnog. The diversion will also apply in reverse.