Drivers are angry at the state of the main road from the Tendring coast to Colchester after long delays getting into work

They claim the A133 was not properly gritted to deal with Monday night's snowfall and freezing temperatures which made driving conditions treacherous during yesterday's rush hour

Traffic was bumper to bumper along the Little Clacton bypass, especially around the Weeley roundabout, and long queues built up.

Police at Clacton received a number of calls about the delays but said there had been no accidents to cause the problems.

Jackie Prior, who travelled from Holland-on-Sea to Colchester, said her normal 35-minute journey took 75 minutes.

"It was a complete nightmare, we were travelling at about 8mph along the A133 because it was so slippery," she said. "Cars were literally following each other bumper to bumper, and yet when we got to the Frating roundabout the conditions changed. It just seemed to be a problem in the Tendring area."

Mike Page, public relations manager for Tendring Council, said that all precautions normally taken in such conditions were carried out by contractors.

"We have a plan for all eventualities on the roads, including a list of primary and secondary tasks," he said.

"The gritters were out on the A133 at 7pm on Monday night and again at 4am yesterday morning."

Mr Page said the council believed the delays were caused by drivers sensibly slowing down for the conditions.

Published Wednesday, January 8, 2003

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