WORK to put up new road signs on Worcester's Deansway had been causing gridlock across the city today.

The work is due to continue all week, but contractors are avoiding the rush-hour, with work not starting until 9.30am, and finishing at 3.30pm.

But today traffic was queueing from the bottom of Bath Road by the Sidbury traffic lights at about 1pm, causing delays.

Worcester News reporter Tom Edwards said: "It took me about 40 minutes to get from St Peters to Hylton Road."

One lane of Deansway is currently closed from the cathedral square to its junction with Bridge Street.

John Fraser of Worcestershire County Council said: "We're currently replacing a lot of the large advance direction signs through the city.

"This involves putting up 17 new signs at various locations, including Deansway. We've already put up some in Sidbury and the work will continue across the bridge, and into Tybridge Street and Hylton Road."

On the Worcester News Facebook page, reader Steve Hobbs said: "I seem to have witnessed something very rare this afternoon from the council's highways department, an attempt to improve traffic!

"A new road sign has gone up on Deansway, it's of the type which tells you which lane you should be, which will avoid the usual lane changes, especially if you don't know Worcester. Are we finally seeing some progress?"

Lee Davis said: "Shame they bought the town to a standstill by parking the vans on the main road while fitting the sign on the pavement!"