THE contractors building the Chadbury to Twyford link near Evesham have announced that the Worcester Road is not likely to reopen before June 14.

Halcrow's project manager Mike Windsor said that the work on the B4624 was delayed at the outset due to poor weather conditions, such as the torrential rain earlier this month. "We have managed to claw back some of the lost time and we are still hoping to bring the date forward to reopen the road - but it is very tight," he said.

In the meantime traffic is being diverted along the Squires to the top of Greenhill.

When the Worcester Road reopens next month there will still be a period of time when single line traffic will be controlled by traffic lights. "We would ask that the public continue to be patient during this difficult time, until the works are completed," said Mr Windsor, who said he could not confirm when the road would be fully reopened.

Since the closure of the Worcester road earlier this month workers have been transporting soil from the Twyford end of the link to the river meadow side of the Worcester Road to build up embankments to protect against flooding and create the base for a new roundabout. Drainage works, culvert construction and other underground works are also underway.

The deadline for opening the new road has been set for the end of November.