VALE residents face commuter chaos when part of Waterside closes for 10 weeks after Christmas for flooding relief work.

Severn Trent began work at the start of this month with the installation of an underground storage tank. The tank will retain excess surface water from the area before releasing it back into the system at a slower rate.

Access to Waterside from Abbey Bridge to the hospital is expected to close from January 4 for the construction and modification of sewers. Hospital visitors will be diverted along the bypass and down Port Street. The only vehicles allowed access will be ambulances on blue lights and fire engines.

Dave Lavender, maintenance engineer for Worcestershire County Council said: "The biggest problem we have is the bus routes, which is the thing that will effect most people.

"It will be chaos the first day because people will try to go where they shouldn't, but it will settle down."

Additional disruption is also likely when repair work begins on Littleton Street and Brick Kiln Street. Access for delivery vehicles to shops along the High Street will be affected, but Mr Lavender is confident of minimal disruption.

He said: "It is an expensive job and something the town wanted for many years - is unfortunate that we have the Severn Trent works too. Funding is there, there is a slot to do it and the county council is quite keen. We will have to have the delivery to some of the shops at the front so it may mean a few parking spaces taken up as delivery bays."

Evesham town councillors were told of the plans at a meeting on Monday.

Councillor John Smith said: "My major concern was that Severn Trent wanted to close Waterside in November and December, so I am grateful that hasn't happened.

"We should make it perfectly clear exactly what is being done and exactly what the (diversion) routes are. I am sure we will be inundated with complaints but it has got to be done so we have got to suck it and see."