WORK began today on repairs to BT cables that has meant the closure of a busy rural link road.

Muckingford Road, which connects East Tilbury and Linford with Chadwell St Mary, had only reopened at the weekend after being closed for several days.

That initial closure angered motorists and residents and prompted a call for better communication and consideration from utilities providers and Thurrock Council which grants road closure licences.

Local councillor Fraser Massey took the authority to task for not keeping residents informed or monitoring the situation.

Temporary traffic lights were eventually put in place to allow traffic to flow but today (Wednesday, 18 October) they were removed as engineers arrived and dug up the road with access from both directions blocked.

In the original specification for the work and the granting of a temporary traffic regulation order, the job was expected to take little more than 24 hours but it may now be that it will take longer.

No information has been given about when the road will reopen.