Confused drivers sent round in circles

Drivers in Staffordshire were left wondering which way to turn this morning after a diversion led back where it started – to avoid non-existent roadworks.

Motorists had been warned to expect chaos today as roadworks were due to close the A34 through Great Wyrley, with a nine-mile diversion along the A5, from Churchbridge in Cannock. Drivers who tried to get through the village at 8am found the road was open, while those opting to follow the lengthy diversion got as far as the Turf Island at Norton Canes.

There, signs appeared to send them back around the roundabout and along the A5 to the start of Walsall Road and the Churchbridge Islands.

The diversion had been meant to go along the A5, along the A452 Chester North Road into Brownhills, and back towards the A34 along the A4124 Lichfield Road to Bloxwich.

Jeremy Herbert, spokesman for Staffordshire County Council's highways department said the roadworks had been delayed.

He said: "The team doing the work has told us that they got stuck in traffic this morning and were late starting.

"They were due to start just after 9.30am.

"All we can do is set up the diversion in advance to ensure drivers are aware of the changes. We would like the start when they should as it will help us but we cannot force them."

Mr Herbert said a highways inspection team were due to drive the diversion this morning to check the diversion signs were in place.

He added: "If any problems are found they will be put right this morning. There are individuals who regard it as fun to remove diversion signs which obviously is not funny to those responsible motorists trying to follow the routes. We don't know if this has happened in this instance."

The roadworks, to repair a main drain underneath the middle of the A34, are scheduled to last until Thursday evening and the county council says the work is essential.