A BID by gas engineers at a troubled Thurrock road junction have been scuppered by unexpected problems and the work is now set to last into next week.

Work should have finished yesterday (Monday, 4 May) on repairing a leak at the junction of Buckingham Hill Road and Stanford Road (A1303), which is being carried out by Cadent.

However the work is far from complete, with deep trenches still halfway across the eastbound section of the road approaching the junction.

Today a spokesperson for Cadent confirmed the work would take much longer than anticipated.

He said: "It now looks like a more complicated job than they first thought, and work is now currently expected to continue until 11 May (Sometimes the way with gas escapes) but they'll continue to work to get it fixed as soon as possible."

The junction has been problematic for local motorists for more than a year after traffic lights that were installed as part of the building of a housing estate at East Tilbury failed to meet standards.

Thurrock Council, which authorised the works as part of the planning permission has abducted responsibility for the problem, battling the issue back to developers Persimmon - who appear to have just ignored the situation.

Temporary lights have been in place since March last year but they frequently fail and are regarded as dangerous by many local residents. There have already been a significant number of accidents at the junction, some causing injury.

In December last year Thurrock Nub News reported on the latest prevarication by Thurrock Council, who continue to fail take responsibility for the original botched engineering works when the traffic lights were installed.

The council lays the blame at the door of housebuilders Persimmon and BT and said: ""Thurrock Council will continue to push both parties to get a resolution as soon as possible."