ROADS bosses have announced planned closures of the A7 later this month.

Resurfacing improvements will lead to the closures between the North Bridge roundabout at Hawick and the B7201 junction near Canonbie.

The £125,000 resurfacing work will take place between 8am and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday, July 22 and 23.

A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: "This work will improve the condition of the carriageway and reduce the need for more extensive maintenance in the future."

During the closures traffic heading northbound will exit the A7 to the B7201 just north of the Scottish Border, joining the B6357 at the Canonbie Junction and through Newcastleton towards Bonchester Bridge .

Then traffic will join the A6088 to the A698 at Hawick, travelling as far as the A698 Mart Street before re-joining the A7 at the North Bridge roundabout.

Traffic heading southbound will exit the A7 at North Bridge roundabout in Hawick following the A698 to the junction with the A6088. Vehicles will then follow the A6088 to south of Bonchester Bridge before joining the B6357 to Canonbie, where they will join the B7201 to re-join the A7.

The local bus service will be reduced during the weekend of the works.

It will depart Hawick for Carlisle at 0800, 0900, 0944 and depart Langholm for Hawick at 0930 and 1030 on Saturday.

These services will be allowed through the diversion. All other services will follow the diversion, including all services on the Sunday.

The spokesperson added: "This work has been planned in consultation with Transport Scotland, Traffic Scotland, Police Scotland, the emergency services, the A7 Action Group, local bus companies, Dumfries and Galloway Council and Scottish Borders Council."