HALSTEAD faced traffic chaos with severe gridlock in the town centre.

Roadworks by UK Power Networks outside the Dorrington, in Trinity Street, caused issues all last week, leaving residents frustrated.

Resident Janet Words said: “I came into town on Monday after I had been into Braintree and the traffic was backed up beyond Holy Trinity Church.

“When I got down to where the parking is allowed outside gardens, I could see that was what was the main cause.

“There was a lorry trying to push its way through to get out of town and it just couldn’t get past.

“The following day we went up through town to get to Sudbury and the traffic was backed up to St Andrew’s Church.

“There should have been an application to temporarily ban parking outside the town gardens.”

A spokesman for UK Power Networks said: “Engineers have completed emergency network repairs on Trinity Street, Halstead, and removed the roadworks on April 24.

“Temporary multiway traffic lights were required to maintain safe pedestrian access while our team excavated and repaired an underground cable fault.

“Specialist teams and equipment had to be called in to locate the fault before it could be repaired.

“Safety is our top priority, and we apologise for the inconvenience these essential works caused.”