RESIDENTS of a Worcester street were left with no way of driving in or out of their road after roadworks saw all junctions closed off for several hours.

Western Power Distribution (WPD) started work in White Ladies Close, Barbourne, on Monday, to install a new cable to a nearby housing development.

But Kim Bishopp, whose 78-year-old mother Grace lives in the street, said residents were left with no way to get in or out of the road when work started.

"On Monday morning I was going to see mum, so I drove down Lansdowne Street from the direction of the Chestnut pub. I found the end of the road had been closed into Cumberland Street. I then had to reverse back and try to go down White Ladies Close from Tennis Walk where I found a van parked across the road closing off White Ladies Close. Then I drove round to find the junction of Little London and White Ladies Close also closed off, which basically meant the row of 20 houses in White Ladies Close were an island no one could get to.

"Mum has several carers and nurses go to her every day, and they had to park streets away from the house and walk to her.

"I was worried that if emergency services crews needed to get access then they couldn't, or at least it would take them longer to get to someone in need.

"The road was blocked completely for several hours on Monday morning but they opened up one of the junctions after residents complained.

"According to WPD they sent out letters to residents letting them know about the works, but my mum didn't get one, and neither did a few of her neighbours, so we didn't know anything about it until it was happening."

A spokesperson for WPD said the work is set to last for a number of weeks but that workers are moving as fast as they can.

"The official completion date is expected to be August 10, but as always our workers will carry out the work as quickly as possible.

"We know it's inconvenient for residents so we want to be done as soon as we can. We are working with Worcestershire County Council to close off a footpath so that we can open up the road a bit more."