A major sewer upgrade is under way to serve a new housing estate.
Northumbrian Water has begun a £2.4million project around the former St Mary’s Hospital site in Stannington, which is being developed by Bellway Homes.
The sewer work started last week and is expected to run until mid December.
The project will replace a pumping station, add 3.6km of sewer around the St Mary’s site to Vale Road and put in 600m of pipework at Briery Hill Farm.
The majority of the work will be carried out by contractor Seymour Civil Engineering around existing sewers and farmland, but there will be a lane closure in Vale Road until the end of October.
An information session was held at Stannington Village Hall earlier this month for residents to find out more about the work and about 30 people attended.
Anyone seeking more information should contact Northumbrian Water on 0345 717 1100, or Tweet @nwater_care