Delays in repairs to Harbour Road in Warwick have caused public works staff problems as power firm Belco prepared to start trenching nearby.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the public works minister, said the ministry job, which is three weeks behind schedule, was expected to wrap up “by the end of this month”.

He added: “It’s causing us a little anxiety in the sense that the Belco works starting at Belmont will have an impact on traffic at Middle Road.

“We’d like Harbour Road to be finished so that it’s an alternate route that doesn’t add to travel time.”

He was speaking as Belco prepared to dig on Middle Road, Warwick as part of a joint drive with the Government to move power lines and other utilities underground.

Bad weather last month delayed the work on Harbour Road, which has been down to single-lane traffic after a section along the shoreline collapsed.