Jams after route shut

Parts of Kidderminster were choked with traffic today as a main commuter route was closed for resurfacing work.

Highway chiefs have been criticised for causing chaos by carrying out the work during the Easter school holidays as visitors headed to the Safari Park at Bewdley. The Horsefair area was closed to through traffic.

Vehicles were diverted along Radford Avenue and on to the Birmingham Road.

But drivers were forced to weave between parked cars as they followed diversions along Radford Avenue, which was reduced to a single track in places.

Traffic emerging onto the Birmingham Road created more problems as drivers tried to join the constant stream of traffic.

Motorist Gemma Coles, aged 29, from Stourbridge Road, described the situation as "absolute chaos" after becoming stuck in traffic for 20 minutes as she tried to drive to work in Kidderminster, a journey which usually takes 10 minutes.

Councillor Fran Oborski said the decision by county highways staff to carry out resurfacing work today was "absolute madness".

She said: "If they had delayed it even until tomorrow this would have been better. But it should really have been done on a Sunday before the Safari Park really got back into its season.

"We have been left with heavy lorries careering down roads that are not built for them and because parking is allowed the road has been reduced to a single lane. I cannot understand why they have had to do it today."

Councillor Howard Martin said: "This is a main route to the Kidderminster Road for people going to the Safari Park. Why haven't they temporarily restricted parking along Radford Avenue instead of turning it into a chicane run."

Gemma Buggins, from Worcestershire County Council, said: "A diversion is in place until Friday and we are monitoring the situation closely."