YORK city centre is set to be gripped by its worst ever traffic chaos with the closure of a key bridge for maintenance work.

Lendal Bridge will be closed to traffic in September for about six weeks, and drivers are being warned to use the ring road or find alternative routes.

Peter Evely, head of highway regulation for the City of York Council, said today that the closure will cause a "considerable amount of problems".

The closure is part of an 18-week programme for the bridge which starts on July 17 for repainting.

The closure in at the end of the programme will enable workers to repair the waterproofing of the bridge deck which has failed and is letting water through to the metal structure beneath, causing corrosion.

Work will then begin to resurface the bridge.

Mr Evely said: "The painting work will not affect pedestrians, traffic or boats, but the waterproofing will require major traffic management measures, and has been timed to avoid the school summer holidays.

"Pedestrian access across the bridge will be maintained at all times during the waterproofing work, but only cyclists, buses, taxis and emergency vehicles will be able to use the bridge.

"They will use a single lane, controlled by traffic lights, once the waterproofing gets underway."

Diversion routes will be signed for all other road users and warning signs will be erected at outer ring road junctions advising motorists to avoid the Lendal bridge area whilst the traffic restrictions are in place.

When complete, it will have light grey parapets and slightly darker grey arches.

Mr Evely aded: "With a generous contribution from the York Civic Trust, the heraldic devices on the fascias and parapets will be repaired and repainted to restore them to their former glory."

Councillor Dave Merrett, the councils executive member for transport said:

"Lendal Bridge is one of York's finest and most prominent bridges, and the repainting and refurbishment will improve its appearance and durability to take it well into the new century."

A study of the effect of the traffic management is being carried out in conjunction with the universities of York and Leeds to provide information to assist in managing any future major disruptions to traffic in the City.