REPAIRS will be carried out on Frideswide Square from today, less than a year on since the multi-million pound project finished.

Temporary lights have been put in place as workers begin two weeks of "minor repairs and alterations" that could result in traffic chaos.

The workmen will focus on the stretch of pavement outside the Royal Oxford Hotel that became damaged after heavy vehicles drove over it, forcing a temporary fix of tarmac to be laid.

The area will be strengthened and reinforced during the works, with the county council previously blaming drivers for cutting the corner despite criticism that the roundabout had been poorly planned.

But stops were also too short and needed tarmac added at the end of them to allow vehicles to enter and exit more easily.

The council has not said how much the latest repairs will cost, but claimed minor alterations were inevitable to the £6.7m scheme that opened in December last year after 10 months' work.

County Councillor David Nimmo Smith, Cabinet member for transport, said: "This was an innovative complex scheme and it is not unexpected that minor alterations and repairs are necessary following a period of bedding in.

"It is important to stress that the area we are talking about amounts to just 1 per cent of the total area of Frideswide Square and the rest of this major gateway into Oxford is unaffected."

The carriageway next to the kerbline will be closed to traffic with Hythe Bridge Street and Park End Street open to one way traffic only.

Temporary signals at the Worcester Street/Hythe Bridge Street/George Street junction will be used and the New Road/Park End Street/Worcester Street permanent signals will be temporarily turned off.

Eastbound bus services on Park End Street (towards the city centre) will be diverted to Hythe Bridge Street.

The eastbound bus stops on Park End Street will also be temporarily relocated to Hythe Bridge Street. Westbound services will continue to use and stop on Park End Street.

Have you been affected? Call Michael Race on 01865 425 483