Roadworks are causing chaos in and around Halstead as five roads have closures or had traffic controls imposed.

Residents have been faced with a week of delays while works in the town and surrounding areas were carried out.

Essex County Council, which is responsible for some of the works, claimed it is more efficient for crews to do several roads in an area at the same time.

A spokesman for Essex Highways said: “These roadworks are a combination of resurfacing and emergency work, we had no control over the timing of the emergency work.

“The resurfacing wasn’t scheduled to overlap but there have been delays caused by the weather.

“The majority of this work has now been completed or will be completed by Friday.

“We apologise for the delay, but it is all essential work required to keep roads driveable and safe.”

Dynes Hall Road at Greenstead Green was closed between July 29 and August 2 for resurfacing.

Nunnery Street, Castle Hedingham, was restricted on August 1 and 2 from the junction with Bowmans Park West.

This was closed for urgent works by UK Power Networks and traffic was maintained by stop-go boards.

Works in Colchester Road and Hedingham Road, Halstead, were delayed by weather and have now been completed. Whitehorse Avenue and Mount Hill, in Halstead, are part of the same resurfacing scheme with temporary traffic lights keeping traffic moving.

The scheme started on July 28 and is due to finish today.