FOR the second evening running, drivers in, and aiming to pass through, Chadwell St Mary have been hampered by the failure of temporary traffic lights.

They are in place at the Cross Keys junction where River View, Brentood Road, Linford Road and Chadwell Hill meet.

It is one of the area's busiest junctions with traffic heading east and west from the Linford and East Tilbury area, as well as traffic heading north and south to Tilbury and the A13.

The work, that began last week and is due to run until the end of the month, is being carried out by Essex and Suffolk Water. It is undertaking utility repairs and maintenance work.

Traffic backed up on Linford Road.

Multi-way traffic lights are in place but failed last night (Sunday, 19 February) when all the lights stuck on red. Engineers were called out and worked on the traffic system for a couple of hours and repaired the fault.

However, they have failed again this evening and, with it being a weekday, the traffic is much heavier and delays much longer. Bus services have also been affected.

Local residents have expressed concern because some motorists are ignoring the lights, attempting to overtake queues of traffic and there have already been a couple of incidents described as 'near misses'.

Essex and Suffolk Water, the police and Thurrock Council have been contacted for information.