Work on the second phase of drainage improvements in Bell Lane, Kesgrave, began today – one week after it was scheduled to begin.

Signs were put up two weeks ago stating that the six-week project would begin last Monday on July 25.

But motorists were left baffled after four days when the road closure was still in place but no work had been carried out.

On Thursday the signs were taken down, but council highways teams today began carrying out the work.

A Suffolk County Council spokeswoman said: “The drainage works on Bell Lane were slightly delayed due to the heavy rain and weather which caused other scheduled works to overrun.

“The crews are due to start on Bell Lane today and Suffolk Highways have sought an additional workforce to make sure the work is completed within the school holidays.”

The work was scheduled for six weeks to coincide with the school holidays, but it is not clear how long the work will take now that extra teams will be on site.

The second phase of work follows £100,000 of improvements carried out at the Bell Lane junction with Main Road earlier this year, after rain left the junction prone to flooding and impeded pedestrians using the crossing.

Suffolk county councillor for Kesgrave Robert Whiting added: “It is good to see these improvement works underway and it is part of my commitment to resolve the long standing highway drainage issues within Kesgrave and Rushmere St Andrew.

“This is the next project on my long list of schemes to improve highway problems within the area and I am not complacent in ensuring that these get addressed.

“Following the resolution of the major flooding on Bell Lane at it’s junction with Main Road, this was the next logical project to implement, however I will ensure that further improvements are implemented across my division.”