Two villages face further traffic disruption after Anglian Water extended the amount of time it needs to carry out improvements work.

Belton and Burgh Castle residents are said to be facing more misery with the closure of Stepshort that links the two villages extended by a further five weeks to June 17.

Originally the closure was proposed for four weeks, it was then extended by a further two weeks and has now had this five week period added.

However the road will be open from Friday, May 26 to Monday, June 5 to cover the schools' half term and bank holiday period.

During the temporary reopening opening traffic lights will be in place outside the pumping station.

The road closure cuts the two villages off from one another and turns a trip of about 400 yards into a journey of about four miles each way which is said to be having an adverse effect on businesses and residents in both parishes.

It is also impacting on the holiday trade and heavy goods vehicle drivers who are having to travel through Bradwell and along Mill Road Burgh Castle, an area totally unsuitable for heavy vehicles.

Starting at the same time as the Stepshort closure, the traffic lights on New Road, Belton, originally due to be in place for four weeks and then extended by a further two weeks have just been extended for one more week to Saturday, May 20

In a reply to letters from the chairman of Belton with Browston Parish Council, Natasha Tuke, customer service lead at Anglian Water, apologised for the impact that the closure is having on the community and confirmed the need for urgency required to get the road open again as mentioned by the chairman.

In an earlier reply she had explained that there are a large number of 'services' in the ground on Stepshort resulting in the need to have to dig a lot of the workings there.

It is believed that the works have been further delayed by the breaking of a water main at each location, along with the high water table and the sandiness of the soil under the road surface which should have been allowed for at the planning stage.

A pumping station on the current site on Stepshort is being built to cope with heavy downpours that at times lift manholes.