A FURIOUS driver has seen his car written off after he was caught out by a “lack of signs” on the new road layout in Basildon town centre.

Russell Hazelwood’s BMW will need £17,000 worth of repairs following the head-on crash on Cherrydown East, which is now a two-way road.

Mr Hazelwood has admitted fault for the crash, which left him with aches and pains, but has criticised the lack of signs.

This comes as the Echo has previously reported on other crashes on the road since the changes were made in December.

The deputy leader of Basildon Council, Kerry Smith, said he had also been caught out by the changes.

He said: “The entrance and exit has changed at the Bowl and Quasar Centre car park. I drove in the new exit and out of the new entrance, it was very confusing.”

Mr Hazelwood will now be writing to Essex County Council to complain about the layout after his crash, which happened just before Christmas.

The 32-year-old from Billericay, said: “It’s really dangerous.

“There aren’t enough signs. We also weren’t warned about the changes.

“It all happened overnight.

“We are a creature of habit, we’ve been doing the same thing for years.”

Witnesses have described seeing cars continually driving into head-on traffic, believing the one-way system is still in place.

A 55-year-old from Laindon told the Echo he saw a car reverse back along Cherrydown East after initially driving into oncoming buses.

He said: “They were so lucky there wasn’t a head-on crash. The signage is really poor.”

A spokesman from Essex County Council added: “As with some other schemes in a busy urban area, some drivers may take time to feel fully comfortable with the new road layout, however everyone must drive to the current rules of the road and obey the signs and lines which are now very clear indeed.

“We continue to ask drivers to proceed cautiously until they are familiar with the new layout. New signs have been installed which are in addition to all the standard legal signs previously put up in accordance with national rules.

“The situation will continue to be monitored.”