FOUR mile diversions may only be in place for three weeks when a major Colchester road is closed on Monday - not six weeks as originally feared.

Residents, councillors and motorists reacted with astonishment last week when Essex County Council revealed Northern Approach Road will close between the junctions of Nayland Road and Mill Road until November 3.

They said they had been given very little warning about the traffic order and feared chaos when thousands of vehicles started using pothole-ridden country lanes earmarked in the diversion.

However highways bosses now say they hope to complete work to connect the road to an extension being built through the former Severalls Hospital site in just three weeks.

County Hall has also responded to concerns about HGVs using Ivy Lodge Lane by sending them along the A134 to the Ford Lane junction and directing them up Boxted Road.

For more, see Friday's Gazette