Severe disruption is expected to hit Brentwood town centre in the the New Year, when Thames Water carries out major work at Wilson's Corner to relieve flooding in the area.

The £280,000 scheme will involve laying 390 metres of sewers along Ongar Road, Ingrave Road and the High Street, from January 10 to the end of March.

It is set to cause misery for motorists at the already notorious crossroads, with Ongar Road to be closed northbound between Wilson's Corner and the North Service Road and parts of Shenfield Road or the High Street closed on Sundays.

The area around Wilson's Corner has for many years been prone to flooding during heavy rainfall, leading some local traders to give the news a cautious welcome while others predict total chaos.

Matthew Ellenby, proprietor of Bagels and Beyond on Ingrave Road, said when heavy rain was expected he had to put out sandbags to prevent his shop from flooding. "It may disrupt my business but in the long run it is worth it," he said.

Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Dorothy Denton, manager of Marks & Spencer said: "It has got to happen. We raised the matter during the Brentwood town forum, and January is the best time to do it."

But William Vockins, manager of Coopers, disagreed: "January is sale time, the busiest period of the year for us, and it is going to cause us the maximum amount of disruption," he said.

And Steve Smith, managing director of minicab company Treble Twenty Cars, said: ''This will cause absolute chaos for us.''

Brentwood council's director of technical services, Dave Marchant, said he was "delighted" the work was finally being carried out: "Whatever happens, it is going to have an impact and cause some disruption.

''We will be trying to inform as many people as we can about it."

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