TRAFFIC lights at a busy junction in Colchester have been causing traffic problems and delays due to a faulty timing system. 

Various complaints from angry motorists have been made about the junction between Mersea Road, Roberts Road and Berechurch Road. 

Drivers have complained the traffic lights coming from Berechurch Road and Roberts Road are only letting three cars through every two minutes, with a mere six seconds of green light.

This short time for cars to get through the lights has been causing backlogs throughout the roads, with traffic built up all the way down Mersea Road and St Botolph's Roundabout.

Frustrated drivers have complained that their journeys have been extended by an unnecessary 20 minutes due to the chaos around the junction.

Some motorists have also been forced to find alternative routes.

One driver said: "I ended up turning around and going back via Canterbury Road and down Military Road.

"It's just as bad coming back so I went via South Circular Road and back via Meyrick Crescent."

Another complains that this is not the first time the issue has arisen.

The resident driver said: "It was like this on Monday afternoon, the traffic lights keep going out of sync. Traffic gets backed up so badly around at Botolph's roundabout."

It has been confirmed that there are workers from Telent on site working hard to fix the issue with the traffic lights.

A spokesperson for Telent said: "We do have an engineer on the site looking in to resolve the issue as quickly as possible."

Telent specialises in the effective operation of critical national infrastructure and operate within various industry sectors including transport and emergency services.

Essex Highways are also aware of the issue and ensure regular traffic light time intervals will be back in place soon.

A spokesman for Essex Highways said: “We are aware of a technical issue at this location causing the lights to run inefficiently.

"Engineers have visited the location and a temporary solution has been put in place until replacements for some equipment can be sourced.

"Normal service will be returned as soon as possible.”