NATIONAL Grid has apologised after traffic lights were left up for days after work had finished, causing traffic chaos.

Dave Rutson, of Highfield Avenue, Dovercourt, said he called National Grid after workmen stopped turning up at the corner of Parkeston Road and Clarkes Road where a three-way traffic light system had been put up.

But he then found out work had finished and the lights, which saw traffic backed up onto the A120 on occasions, had not been taken away.

"The lights were a pain, traffic was going right around the roundabout onto the A120 and the other way right up to the corner."

A spokesman for National Grid said: "Engineers were called out to a gas escape in Parkeston Road, Dovercourt, on Monday June 2.

"Work to repair the escape was completed by the end of Tuesday June 3 and our reinstatement contractors were contacted to reinstate the road surface.

"On Monday June 9 National Grid engineers spotted that the lights were still in place.

"The matter was immediately raised with our reinstatement contractors and the traffic lights have been removed.

"National Grid would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused by this delay in removing the traffic lights.”