HIGHWAYS chiefs have defended the three week day-time closure of the A39 as irate drivers were left in hour-long tailbacks as they tried to avoid roadworks which began on Monday.

Somerset County Council said it had no alternative but to carry out urgent flood prevention work during daylight hours, which involves closing the main road at Dragon's Cross near Bilbrook between 9am and 3.30pm on weekdays until November 22.

"Night-time closures were not possible because it would not be practical or safe to carry out complex work under the road in the dark," a spokesman for the council said.

"We apologise for any disruption caused by these essential works where the only option was a day-time road closure."

The Free Press revealed last month that drivers would face a lengthy official detour via Raleghs Cross to get between Minehead and Williton during the works.

However, many locals - including lorry drivers - have been taking a shorter route through Blue Anchor, which has resulted in chaos on narrow lanes and through the centre of Watchet.

Blue Anchor is also the official diversion for the district's bus services.

Minehead resident Alan Edwards said it had taken him over an hour to travel through Watchet and described the situation as an "absolute shambles".

He said the county council should have ensured police officers monitored the diversions to make sure larger vehicles followed the official routes and buses did not meet at pinch-points and on tight corners.

"It's been horrendous and no-one seems to care," he said.

"I appreciate the work has to be done, but common sense has to prevail at some point.

"It's obvious you cannot shut a main arterial road into Minehead without proper control."

Minehead hotelier Bryan Leaker said the closure had resulted in "pandemonium" and some of his guests had taken an hour-and-a-half just to drive from the seafront to Dunster.

He said the work should have been carried out overnight and not when holidaymakers were trying to get to and from the Butlins resort in Minehead on Mondays and Fridays.

Mr Leaker said: "The queues stretched from Minehead all the way to Washford and when locals tried to go via Watchet they found blockages there also.

"Questions need to be asked of the county council - an authority which appears to be committed to cuts, not services."

He said the diversion should have followed a one-way system to prevent chaos on country lanes, similar to the one used by the emergency services when the A39 is blocked by a serious accident.

"Why did the county council not introduce the one-way loop system towards Bridgwater and Taunton via Carhampton, Blue Anchor and Old Cleeve rejoining the A39 at Washford and routing inbound to Minehead via Raleghs Cross, Timberscombe and Dunster?

"And why did they not plan the work for January when Butlins is closed for three weeks and traffic would have been at its lightest?" Mr Leaker said.

Graham Sizer, the chairman of Minehead Chamber of Trade, said he was still waiting to hear if highways chiefs would take up an invitation to attend the chamber's next meeting on Tuesday (November 12).

"We all know the work needs to be done, but it could have been done at night," he said.

"Those employed and having to travel in West Somerset are again having to bear the brunt of disruptions.

"Local businesses saw one of their quietest days for months on Monday and were sure it was something to do with the road closure."

The county council spokesman said the authority had done all it could to make people aware of the closure well in advance by writing to "numerous parties", putting up advance warning signs and publishing notices in local newspapers.

The spokesman added: "The works were timed to avoid peak commuting times and key travel periods such as the summer holidays and build-up to Christmas.

"We are working hard to complete these drainage improvements which will hopefully prevent even greater disruption as seen in previous winters."

A second phase of works will start on November 25 at Lodge Rocks, just off the A39, and will see further diversions in place for another two weeks.