CALLS have been made for a council to investigate how diversion routes are decided after residents were hit by traffic chaos before Christmas.

In November, week-long works to resurface a pothole riddled stretch of the A120 were stopped after just two days, following complaints about the diversion.

Cars and lorries were forced to drive through small village roads in Mistley as they took on the officially designated alternative route between Ramsey and Horsley Cross.

Then, days before Christmas drivers, had to follow an emergency diversion after a three-car crash closed the A120 for more than three hours.

Drivers criticised the route, which saw them have to pass through Ramsey village.

At a meeting of Harwich Town Council on Wednesday, members of the public called on the authority to request and contribute to an updated emergency plan for crashes, saying it would benefit Harwich and other nearby communities.