RESIDENTS have hit out at a "thoughtless" anti-flood scheme that is causing traffic chaos in the county.

Roadworks on the A4103 at Bransford Bridge, have resulted in half-hour traffic jams and diversions while engineers insert 10 underground pipes to disperse floodwater.

But the scheme, which also involves raising the road by almost a metre, has been met with opposition from those who feel the work is a waste of money.

"I think the Government got into a panic about lack of flood protection and offered the county council money to prevent main roads being affected," said Dr John Popert, who lives 200 yards away, in Bransford, near Worcester.

"The road is now totally closed for two weeks, and work will continue until June. But the floods only ever cause intermittent problems for 24 to 36 hours.

"Throughout the whole of the last 25 years flooding has not caused as much disruption to traffic as this thoughtless scheme has."

And the engineering works, which have forced traffic along alternative routes like the A449 at Powick, has also hit local retailers.

"I appreciate that it will be beneficial in the future but the road probably hasn't been closed this long for the last decade," said Will Edmonds, a local farm shop owner and supplier.

"The council has put up a sign directing our customers but trade is down about 20 to 25 per cent since the roadworks began, and down 50 per cent since the road has closed."

Temporary traffic lights were introduced earlier this month, and the road was closed on Wednesday, March 19.

It will stay off limits to traffic for another two-and-a-half weeks.

John Wallace, Traffic and Development Co-ordination Manager at Worcestershire County Council's highways department, said that initial problems were inevitable.

"We have had consultations with local people and of course concerns have been expressed," he said. "It would also be wrong to say that the work will not impact on the area."

But Mr Wallace denied the claim that the scheme was ill planned.

"We have set up the necessary signage, spoken to the media and, though there's going to be initial difficulties, we are hoping to see a marked improvement in the future," he said.

The Government recently announced that Worcestershire's residents would not be taxed for living in an "at risk" flood area.