TRAFFIC chaos caused by the roadworks on Long Lane could have been prevented if the council had acted more effectively, says Warrington North MP Helen Jones.

But council bosses have reacted by stating they have had less than 20 complaints about the work Mrs Jones said: "The council failed to signpost alternative routes, resulting in complete chaos. The resulting gridlock has caused real difficulties for people but also undermines Warrington's attempts to attract new jobs and businesses which will be put off by traffic problems," she said.

She added that the council should have anticipated the problems the road closure would cause.

"Repairs need to be done, but for a council officer to glibly suggest that people will find their own alternative routes' is simply not acceptable and is typical of senior officers who do not live in Warrington and are therefore not inconvenienced in the same way as local people," she said.

The works on Long Lane began on January 7 and were expected to last 10 weeks, taking the anticipated end date to March 17.

Long Lane and the surrounding roads are being resurfaced.

Council highways chiefs say they advertised the closures back in December in media and through the Contact centre in the town centre and with signs in the area.

They say night working was not possible because of the large number of houses in the area and added that less than 20 people had complained, with many just wanting to know about alternative routes.