A developer has apologised after it was announced roadworks based on a major Halstead road will overrun by two months.

Traffic lights were set up on Mount Hill, Halstead, back in April to allow Bloor Homes to instal a new drainage system for the Oak Road development.

The work has meant the eastbound carriageway has been closed off to traffic and regularly causes large queues both in and out of Halstead on the A131.

When announcing the roadworks back in April, Bloor estimated work would be complete by Monday, September 17 and all roadworks would be removed.

However, the developer has confirmed it has had to extend its deadline by two months, with work now not scheduled to be complete until Saturday, November 10.

A spokesman for Bloor Homes Eastern said: "After conducting surveys with ground penetrating radar, we had anticipated that the works would be completed by Monday, September 17. However, the layout of the existing utilities underneath this section of road has proved to be more complex than these initial surveys had indicated.

"This, together with the discovery of ground conditions requiring additional works on the grounds of health and safety, has caused the work to take longer than initially anticipated. We have therefore sought permission from Essex County Council to keep the temporary traffic lights in place until Saturday, November 10 in order to complete the works.

"We apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused by this extension, and we will continue to do everything we can to minimise the disruption for motorists while these necessary works are carried out."

Contractors have been working on sections no bigger than 50 metres at a time and had to dig trenches which are three metres deep.

The new drainage system will connect the 283 home Oak Road development, named Oakwood Hill, to the outfall chamber outside the Three Pigeons pub on Mount Hill.