“Catastrophic” disruption hit motorists this week after traffic lights were removed in Welwyn Garden City.

The Welwyn Hatfield Times was inundated with complaints after the Parkside roundabout units were pulled out by Hertfordshire Highways.

An irate commuter fumed about the delays caused by the work on the A1000 and B197 junction.

Craig Selby said: “What was a 30 minute drive home to Stevenage now takes 90 minutes and the disruption being caused is catastrophic.

“This has really upset a lot of people just trying to get home after work, and I cannot see for the life of me why this was done?”

His anger was echoed by Claire Duncan-Aylott who has been venting her rage on Twitter.

She told the Welwyn Hatfield Times: “I work in Shire Park and every day this week has been a nightmare.”

However temporary traffic lights are now in the process of being installed.

A spokesman for Hertfordshire County Council said: “There is refurbishment work on that junction at the moment.

“We will be putting temporary signals in place whilst the signals refurbishment works are taking place.

“These temporary signals will be in place either tonight or tomorrow morning.”