THE delivery of a massive boiler to Watchet's paper mill is expected to cause long delays for motorists on the A39 on Sunday (January 12).

The 145-ton boiler is due to leave Sedgemoor Services on the M5 with a police escort at 9am on a journey which could take up to seven hours.

And drivers are being warned that moving the abnormal load - which is 16 feet wide, 16 feet high and 100 feet long - is likely to cause significant tailbacks.

After leaving the motorway at junction 24, the boiler will travel into Bridgwater on the A38 and turn on to the A39 at Broadway.

It will continue along the A39 through Williton to Washford Cross where it will turn right onto the B3190 and on to the paper mill.

Motorists are being advised to avoid the area and use an alternative route if possible - including the A358 which is suitable for vehicles under 4.2 metres high.

A spokesman for the Avon and Somerset police said: "The width and length of the load will mean that it will take up most of the road and there are very few safe places to pull the load over and allow traffic to clear.

"The nature of this load and the difficulty of the route mean that it cannot be moved during the hours of darkness."

More information about traffic incidents in the area is available on the police website at http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk">www.avonandsomerset.police.uk.