THE owners of a business near Stroud were left frustrated as the wrong signs turned up when 'controversial' roadworks began last week. 

Traffic lights in Toadsmoor Road, Brimscombe are currently being replaced - work began on Wednesday, July 27 and will last until Friday, September 2.

Jeanette and Gary, the owners of Interiors at No. 36, in Toadsmoor Road, have been facing the possibility that their family business will not last the summer months due to the work. 

Further misery was piled on them when the wrong road closure signs were put in place on Wednesday, the opening day of the works.

The signs made it look as if the entire road was closed - despite customers being able to get to the business via the main junction of Toadsmoor Road with London Road. 

"The bottom of Toadsmoor Road is still open but the road signs made it look as if it’s all closed," said Jeannette Smith on the first day of the roadworks. 

"No business as open signs were there either. 

"I was actually really positive about it all at the weekend as Gloucestershire highways has promised businesses open as usual signs but after seeing the problems I’m feeling so despondent. 

"You would have thought that they would have had this all sorted after all the promises I had from them.

"Six weeks is an awfully long time so we are going to make our own signs."

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire County Council said: “We understand the pressure these works put on local businesses and we apologise our road closure signs were incorrect.

"Thank you for bringing this to our attention, our crews have amended the signs, and a ‘businesses open as usual’ sign is now up on site.

“Having listened closely to the concerns of residents about this road closure, we have instructed our contractors to carry out the work from 9am to 4pm each day and there are temporary lights to manage the traffic outside of these times.

“The work is essential to replace traffic signals in Toadsmoor Road as they can no longer be maintained because of their age.

"We hope this solution will cause less inconvenience to residents and businesses and appreciate their understanding while this important work is carried out.”