RUSH-hour traffic ground to a halt in and around Poulton this week as another set of road works went up at the town centre junction of Tithebarn Street -- causing motor mayhem.

People living around the area have complained that insufficient notice was given and the diversion signs were inadequate -- causing chaos and confusion on the roads.

Poulton restaurant manager Victor Woolton told The Citizen of his experience this week taking his children to school: "The situation was verging on chaos and what should have been a 10-minute journey took me an hour and the situation has got worse as the week has gone on."

Vanessa Morgan, owner of Kabki, a designer dress agency on Tithebarn Street, said the road works had virtually cut her shop off from Poulton.

"It is extremely inconvenient for both myself and my customers and as I was only notified on Friday I haven't been able to let my clientele know that I am open for business."

Another irate Poulton resident said: "It took me almost three quarters of an hour to get out of Poulton on Monday morning and the traffic queues along Blackpool Old Road ran all the way up to the crematorium.

"The road diversions were desperately inadequate for the massive influx of traffic that ensued and there had obviously been little or no thought given to this and road-safety implications that followed."

A spokesperson for Wyre Borough Council said: "A council officer visited the site on Monday and confirmed that there was a lack of signage. It is the council's responsibility to give authorisation to use the road but it is the responsibility of United Utilities (UU) to make sure that signs are erected and diversions marked."

A spokesperson for UU said: "The work needed to be carried out at extremely short notice as a sewer had collapsed.

"We do apologise for the inconvenience it may have caused but it was a very dangerous problem that commanded emergency action. We are hoping all the work will be completed by Thursday."