FAIRFORD could be closed to passing traffic for three months after Thames Water discovered major defects in the town's sewage system.

It was originally thought the ongoing issues with sewage in the west side of the market town could be easily resolved.

But recent investigations have revealed serious problems with cracked pipes and it now appears some £3 million worth of repairs need to be carried out.

Town mayor Chris Roberts said: "We have had problems with sewage for a couple of years now - raw sewage has come into people's homes before.

"We have contacted Thames Water on a number of occasions and in February they found a few cracks in pipes, but they said it would be quite easy to fix.

"Now they have said it is not as easy as originally thought and long lengths of new piping will have to be installed in some areas."

The roads which could be affected by the repairs are High Street, Milton Street, Back Lane and Moor Lane.

Work is expected to take place after Christmas or at the beginning of 2006, but Thames Water is as yet unsure how long it will take.

Spokesman Andrew Boyd said: "There are at present 63 properties towards the lower end of Fairford that have suffered in the past.

"Most of them have suffered internal flooding which is the worst type you can get and obviously we want to tackle this problem.

"We have been doing studies for some time and initially they pointed in the direction of one solution, which would be work to prevent infiltration of water into the sewers.

"But as the studies have continued we have reached the conclusion that actually a lot more work as necessary.

"We will install two large tanks in the ground which will collect the rainwater in a heavy storm, store it and release it slowly later."

Chris Roberts says so far no firm decision has been made about dealing with any possible traffic problems caused by the work.

She said: "It'll probably mean having to find a detour around Fairford but this has not been looked into yet.

"The good news in this scenario is that the A417 will probably have to be closed - open only for access - during these three months.

"Maybe then the heavy lorries that constantly pass through our town will find a better alternative route."