RESIDENTS living along the M40 in South Oxfordshire will soon benefit from measures to cut traffic noise near their homes.

A worn-out section of the motorway will be replaced with a new, quieter road surface.

Highways England has been developing proposals to reduce noise along the M40 corridor between Loudwater near junction three in Buckinghamshire and Wheatley near junction eight in South Oxfordshire.

A 4.3-mile stretch between junction six near Thame and junction eight of the A40 for Oxford is being resurfaced.

Work is due to start on Thursday and is expected to be complete by Christmas.

The majority of the work will be carried out using slip road and lane closures overnight from 10pm to 6am.

There will be a full closure of the M40 northbound overnight to install the lane closures, from 10pm until 6am on Thursday.

There will also be a temporary 50mph speed limit in place.

Highways England project manager Mark Saunders said: "We have been working hard with our partners to help residents along the M40 affected by noise.

"We will be progressing a scheme to install noise barriers at the locations where it will make the most difference, in addition to the low-noise resurfacing work we will shortly be carrying out.

"We will now carry out the detailed design for each site identified, and will keep people updated as the project progresses.

"I would like to pay tribute to the passion and commitment that our partners have brought to this work, and I look forward to continuing to work closely together in the future."