A GIANT underground water main will encircle Bicester as part of a £700,000 project to prepare for the growth of the town.

Thames Water is extending its ring main for the town, which is currently a horseshoe shape, into a full circle to help it meet demand from new homes and businesses.

The six-mile pipe supplies 12million litres of water a day to residents at the moment. It roughly follows the town’s main arterial roads and was built in stages during the 1980s and 90s.

The one-mile extension will connect both ends to complete the circle.

Project manager Andy Popple said: “Right now the Bicester Ring main is more of a horseshoe.

“This work will make sure it really is a ring. It will be Bicester’s M25 for water.

“Providing water is an essential service, so it’s vital that we plan and invest in our network to not only maintain services to current customers, but also for future generations of the town.

“This new section of pipe will enable us to boost pressure to our existing customers, give us greater control of transferring water around the town and ensure we can provide water to new customers when the town grows.

“As with any work of this nature, there may be some disruption but we will do everything possible to minimise it.”

Work on the new section is under way beneath the cycle path near Skimmingdish Lane, off Buckingham Road to Launton Road and is expected to take about six weeks. The cycle path will remain open during the project.