A road closure in the centre of Norwich which contributed to lengthy traffic jams has been temporarily lifted.

With Norwich City at home and the start of half-term week, council bosses have decided that Cattle Market Street will reopen today and tomorrow before work begins again.

Frustrated drivers found themselves caught up in rush-hour jams in the centre of Norwich on Wednesday, partly due to roadworks required because a traffic island – part of a multi-million pound shake-up to city streets – had been installed in the wrong place.

The downhill lane of Cattle Market Street was shut because the traffic island is being moved further down the road. Wednesday was the first day of a closure due to last until Sunday, October 30.

Wednesday's situation was not helped by a crash involving two cars in Queens Road, close to the Sainsbury's petrol station.

To head off any problems last night, traffic lights on the junction of King Street/Carrow Road were switched off.

But temporary traffic lights outside John Lewis added to queues along All Saints Green towards Queens Road, where traffic was slow-moving.

Council officers hoped that the fact drivers were aware of the Cattle Market Street closure would help traffic flow.

They said the King Street junction was being monitored and the lights would only be turned on if necessary. Other lights on the King Street/Bracondale junction were part of recent BT work, not the Transport for Norwich project.

With Norwich City facing Preston at Carrow Road tomorrow, the decision has been taken to suspend the Cattle Market Street lane closure from this afternoon.

The council says it plans to do that at around 4pm, ahead of the evening peak. They say the road will remain open for the whole of Saturday, with work resuming on Sunday. Work should still be completed by Sunday, October 30.

A spokesman for Transport for Norwich said: 'A combination of the existing planned works, emergency works and the accident in Queens Road put the city's roads under significant pressure.

'The lane closure on Cattle Market Street played a part in this so we have reviewed the construction programme to allow for a break in work and will open the road ahead of what could be a particularly busy day on Saturday.

'We have also turned off the temporary lights at the King Street/Carrow Road junction and will monitor traffic levels in the area.

'The lights will only be turned back on to provide additional control if needed.

'We understand the frustrations experienced by road users on these occasions.'

The traffic island in Cattle Market Street needs to be moved eight metres down the road because of a 'design oversight'.