Residents in Portbury will have to make a seven-mile detour to get out of their village when the High Street is closed for a week because of roadworks.

North Somerset Council is closing the road to all traffic at its junction with the A369 at Martcombe Road for five days from Monday.

Motorists also face putting an extra few miles on their journey to work, as the route through the village is used by thousands each day as a shortcut to the M5 junction at Portishead.

The work, which is costing £30,000, will see the junction widened to create a right-turn lane on to the A369.

Diversions will be put in place via Mill Lane, Portbury Lane, the B3128, Beggar Bush Lane and the A369.

Normally, access for businesses and residents stays in place during road closures, but this time local people are also being told to use the diversion.

This will mean people needing to get out of Portbury will have to make a seven-mile detour to get on to the A369 rather than just travel half a mile from the village centre.

The work is being done during half-term week to minimise disruption for Portbury Primary School, just off the High Street.

Traders in the village say they are concerned that the roadworks will mean people will not bother coming to Portbury.

Matt McKay, deputy manager of village pub The Priory, said he and staff had warned customers in advance of the road closure.

Mr McKay, 31, said: "We do between 2,500 and 3,000 meals a week at The Priory and we are concerned that this diversion will mean not so many people visit us and there will be a drop in sales.

"We have been advising customers that the road is closed as they come in for a meal and we have put a sign outside the pub.

"A lot of our trade comes from Portishead and the surrounding area and these customers will have to make a huge detour if they want to use the pub next week.

"It is also going to be very inconvenient for the business as we do our banking in Pill.

"I now face doing a 15-mile round trip just to go a couple of miles up the road."

Bosses at family catering firm Geraldine's Business Meals are also unhappy at the full closure.

The business, run by husband and wife John and Geraldine Puzey, delivers meals to areas including Clevedon, Portishead and Nailsea.

Mr Puzey, 60, said: "It is going to be very inconvenient because the large detour which will be in place will mean extra cost and extra time when making deliveries.

"The High Street is one of the main routes for local people and is the easiest, most direct route.

"I do not understand why the council couldn't have carried out the work and kept one of the lanes open."

Fears have also been raised that the village could be cut off if an accident occurs on Portbury Lane. Only last Wednesday the road was closed for several hours after a number of vehicles skidded on ice.

North Somerset Council has been forced to reduce the number of roads it grits during the recent cold snap because of a shortage of rock salt, and Portbury Lane will not be treated.

Portbury Parish Council has been working with local businesses to forewarn them of the road closure.

Portbury Parish Council chairman, Councillor Les Summerfield, said: "We have done as much as we can to warn people.

"We have put posters up around the village and spoken to residents and businesses advising them of the diversion routes.

"A lot of traffic, especially commuters from surrounding villages, come through Portbury and we have been in contact with other parish councils in the area to warn them of the closure and that their villages may incur higher traffic flows at peak hours.

"I have also raised concerns with North Somerset Council leader Nigel Ashton that Portbury Lane is not on the current gritting route."

North Somerset Council spokesman Nick Yates said a full road closure was needed to carry out the work.

Mr Yates said: "Access to businesses and residential properties in Portbury Village will be available by following the diversion routes."