The five-week closure of a slip road in Eaton will cause 'chaos' for drivers and businesses in the area, a residents' association has warned.

Work on a shared cycle path along Eaton Street, between Eaton and Cringleford on the edge of Norwich, is due to begin this summer.

It will see the slip road into the village, off Newmarket Road, close for five weeks from Wednesday, July 25.

But Eaton Village Residents' Association has criticised the proposals, claiming it will impact anyone wanting to drive into the village from the city.

Chris Stebbing, chair of the association, said: 'We were initially told it would be closed for three weeks, that then changed to six weeks, then earlier this year they said four weeks.

'Now it's going to be five weeks, but we don't trust them because their [Norfolk County Council's] track record for delivering to time is pretty poor.'

He said the closure will cause traffic 'chaos', adding that anyone wanting to access Eaton from Newmarket Road will have to take a two-mile detour.

A Norfolk County Council spokesman said the work will see the cycle path widened from 1.5m to 3m to cater for two-way cycling.

The spokesman said that original estimates suggested it would take four weeks for the work to be complete.

'It was clearly stated at the time that this was an indicative closure period and that as we work with our contractor to finalise this phase of the works, timings may change,' the spokesman said.

Mr Stebbing said councillors asked Transport for Norwich (TfN) to open up the link between Sunningdale and Greenways to allow one-way traffic during the slip road closure.

But he claimed TfN, which is a joint Norwich City Council and Norfolk County Council project, said it was not suitable.

The county council said the same level of bus service will be maintained during the works.

Meanwhile, temporary traffic lights at the Eaton village crossroads junction will be manned during the morning peak period from 7.30am to 9.30am to 'minimise disruption'.

A council spokesman added: 'Comprehensive information will be provided closer to the time of the works, and during the works themselves, to keep residents and stakeholders informed of the works and their impact.'