Engineers will carry out seven weeks of urgent repairs on an Olympic cycle race road that has suffered regular gas leaks for months.

The world’s greatest cyclists will speed through Park Road, Teddington, for the London 2012 events on July 28 and 29.

But residents raised concerns over the risk of a gas leak disrupting the races, as they said it would cause huge embarrassment when the borough comes under the media spotlight and could be dangerous to athletes and spectators.

Richmond Council said the Victorian pipes were in dire need of replacement and held urgent talks with the gas board, which agreed to start repairs on Monday, May 21.

Households between Queen’s Road and Clarence Road are set to face disruption and parking problems for about seven weeks, but engineers should complete the work by the beginning of July - in time for the Olympic cycle races.

Councillor Chris Harrison, cabinet member for traffic and transport at Richmond Council, said: “There are thousands of miles of Victorian gas pipes running across London and a number of them are in dire need of replacement.

“Residents in Park Road have regularly raised concerns with their gas provider and I am pleased that we have now managed to negotiate a solution.

“Ideally we would have preferred that this work would have been carried out earlier. The work will take seven weeks and I do apologise for any inconvenience caused.

“But I am sure that in the long run - residents prefer that the area is safe and free from gas leaks in the future.”

Households repeatedly complained to Southern Gas Network about gas leaks but the company had not come up with any permanent solution, the council said.

However, the gas board is now due to completely renew the mains along Park Road to ensure it is safe.