CONSTRUCTION of a long awaited roundabout at Washford Cross is due to get underway in November.

Local councils have been calling for the road improvement at the junction of the B3190 and A39 roads for years.

But cash-strapped highways chiefs could not justify the cost, put at more than £500,000 several years ago.

However, French energy company EDF has agreed to pick up the bill as part of its plans to site a park and ride facility for construction workers for the proposed Hinkley C nuclear power station at the nearby Smithyard terminal.

The construction date was revealed by newly elected chairman of Williton Parish Council, Bob McDonald at the authority's annual meeting on Tuesday.

Cllr McDonald's who represents the council on the EDF Transport Forum, said the roundabout was scheduled to take 130 days to build, with a completion date of May 3 next year.

Williton was one of many parish and town councils behind a community campaign to improve safety at the Washford Cross junction, a notorious accident blackspot.