Hated roadworks to revamp a junction which were only supposed to last six months are now set to end a year after they started.

The redesign of the A2070 Bad Munstereifel Road in Ashford was supposed to be complete in October, but delays have pushed back the scheme several times.

Contractors ripped out the Orbital Park roundabout and replaced it with a four-way traffic light junction.

While the majority of the work will end this month, National Highways has confirmed the whole scheme is now set to end on May 15, just over a year after the project started.

Since then, the dual carriageway has seen a number of crashes with many raising concerns over the safety of the new layout.

A woman was injured following a crash involving a car and a bin lorry at the junction for the Finberry housing estate last week.

Two vehicles collided on the dual carriageway in March.

Harish Popat, National Highways programme delivery manager, said: "We thank road users for their patience and understanding while we create a new signalised junction on the A2070 in place of the Orbital Park roundabout and Avocet Way junction.

"The work - which is part of the new Finberry housing development - will help create a smoother flow of traffic along the route, and is expected to finish mid-May.

“At National Highways safety is our top priority, and our vision is for everyone who travels on our network to get home safe and well.

"It is too early to speculate on the potential causes of these collisions but we will work with the police and other stakeholders involved in road safety partnerships across the region to continuously improve the safety of our roads.”

The scheme, named the 'Bellamy Gurner' project, started on May 9 last year.

Lane closures caused huge tailbacks for drivers in both directions from Junction 10a to the former roundabout.

As well as ripping out the roundabout, changes to the layout of the junction at Avocet Way means drivers will be able to turn right out of Finberry for the first time.

But the changes mean residents have felt like prisoners in their own homes throughout the scheme as it has caused constant gridlock on the only route into their estate.

To add to the issues, a huge sign erected at the new traffic-light controlled junction from Waterbrook Avenue mistakenly labelled the area of Newtown as 'Newton'.

Residents branded the spelling error as an "embarrassment".

House builder Crest Nicholson, which is funding the scheme, has been approached for comment.