PICTURES show a leak which has led to emergency roadworks in two busy roads in Colchester.

Anglian Water is conducting repairs in Haven Road and Whitehall Road, in the Hythe.

Multi-way traffic lights have been installed whilst the works, which started on Thursday morning, are completed.

The works are set to go on until Wednesday and are causing long delays across Hythe in Colchester.

Drivers have reported huge queues across part of the town due to the works.

Gazette: Pictures show leak which is causing delays in Hythe, Colchester. Picture: Richard Fanders Pictures show leak which is causing delays in Hythe, Colchester. Picture: Richard Fanders

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Richard Fanders, who is an independent driving instructor with his firm Conquer Driving, sent the photos in the the Gazette.

He said: "There has been a leak near the mini roundabout joining Whitehall Road and Haven Road in Colchester for several weeks now.

"Yesterday they decided to close the pavement where the leak is occurring and use one half of the road for pedestrians.

"To do this they have put a temporary three way traffic light system in place which is causing major queues along both of the roads.

"The area gets very little footfall from pedestrians.

Gazette: Pictures show leak which is causing delays in Hythe, Colchester. Picture: Richard Fanders Pictures show leak which is causing delays in Hythe, Colchester. Picture: Richard Fanders

"I was there for around ten mins and saw one person on foot in the area and there is a perfectly good pavement on the other side of the road not to mention a zebra crossing further up the road on one side of the leak and a traffic island very close on the other side of the leak helping people cross the road if they feel they need to.

"To me it seems very silly to bring so much traffic, stress and pollution to the area by closing half the road to make way for pedestrians especially when there are so few pedestrians in the area.

"I didn't see one person use the temporary pedestrian path."

Gazette: Pictures show leak which is causing delays in Hythe, Colchester. Picture: Richard Fanders Pictures show leak which is causing delays in Hythe, Colchester. Picture: Richard Fanders

He added: "I see it as nanny state as surely people can cross the road safely or walk around the obstruction on their own accord when no traffic is coming.

"Surely the people who control the roads should put more faith in the public."

You can view the roadworks map here.