RESIDENTS say they are going through “hell on earth” as a result of motorway diversions through Martin Hussingtree.

Some claim they are suffering from sleep deprivation and demand action against the M5 diversions.

Starting on July 8 there will be 13 consecutive nights – barring Sundays - of diverted traffic passing through Pershore Lane, locals say.

The M5 Northbound is due to be closed from junction five to junction six between the hours of 8pm and 6am.

Craig Mills, a Pershore Lane resident, has lived with the “nightmare” diversions since the start of the year.

Mr Mills, 56, said: “We can’t sleep because our house is close to the road. We are living through a nightmare, it is hell on earth.

“All three lanes of motorway traffic go down a single lane past our house. It is chock-a-block with traffic when they close the motorway.

“It’s just not on, we can’t put up with two weeks of no sleep. It wouldn’t be that bad if it was just the occasional night here and there.”

Mr Mills, a sales director for an engineering services company, says it is impossible to sleep with the noise of heavy Lorries ticking over.

Work on the M5 between junction six and junction 4A will continue until November, as part of the M5 Smart Motorway development.

“It’s affecting my wife heavily, she cannot sleep and she’s a person who needs her sleep. I only need two to three hours,” he said.

Sally Mills, 54, filmed the traffic at night to show others the severity of the situation.

Mrs Mills, an executive assistant at the hospital in Bath Road, almost burst into tears when she met the contractor.

After the meeting, the contractor offered to pay for the couple to stay in a nearby hotel for two nights.

Mr Mills will offer the contractors and Highways England some potential solutions at a meeting on Monday.

The motorway could be closed during the day, or one side could be split for both north and southbound traffic, according to Mr Mills.

According to Mr Mills, traffic passes through Pershore Lane and goes along the A38 to get back onto the M5.

Nigel Huddleston, Mid Worcestershire MP, said: “I had a chat with Craig this morning and said I don’t have the power to say I can stop the diversions.

“Also we do need the improvements. I have asked Highways and the contractor to do what they can to minimise the disruption.

“There’s a meeting between Highways and the contractors to address his concerns.”

Mr Mills was frustrated with his MP, Nigel Huddleston, claiming he was not prepared to act on his behalf.

A Highways England spokesman said: “Upgrading the M5 to a smart motorway will bring real benefits.

“We are working hard throughout construction to do the right thing for drivers and residents while completing the work as quickly as possible.

“Certain activities can only be completed using closures, which we try and carry out at night wherever possible when traffic volumes are lowest.”

The spokesman said details of closures were published in advance.