A LANE closure on the A31 due to flooding is expected to remain in place until "at least"  Monday, January 23. 

National Highways said machines brought in to carry out work at the site had been unable to operate “due to the extreme low temperatures” seen this week.

The lane closure has been in place westbound between the M27 for Southampton and the A338 near Ringwood since Tuesday morning.

Speaking on Thursday, a National Highways spokesperson said: “Lane one (of two) remains closed westbound between the M27 and the A338 (near Ringwood) due to a burst water main.

“Due to the extreme low temperatures, the machines required to allow work to be carried out will not operate, the work is scheduled to take place on Monday morning (23rd), this means this lane closure is expected to remain in place until at least Monday 23rd January.”

Drivers have faced very long delays on the stretch of road this week.

Delays of 70 minutes were reported on Tuesday morning.

This morning delays of 20 minutes above usual journey time are being reported with four miles of congestion. 

Contractors have been on site for much of the week and a gulley sucker was used in an attempt to clear the water on Wednesday.

However, efforts to clear flooding were described as “unsuccessful”.

National Highways originally said the incident was the result of a burst water main and later described it as flooding.

However, National Highways later said it isn't a main and is a drainage pipe which takes water away from the road.

A spokesperson said the pipe had been "heavily damaged and preventing the water from clearing".

They added: "We are working with our maintenance contractors to undertake a repair."