A MOTORIST says he will be avoiding trips to Evesham after a day of chaos on the roads left him worried how the town will cope with the Abbey Bridge closure.

Tim Yarrow, who lives in nearby Charlton, was among a number of disgruntled motorists affected by hold-ups on Monday which left traffic backed up at the main entrances to the town.

Three sets of roadworks – on the A44, Pershore Road in Hampton and Cheltenham Road – are thought to be the cause.

Mr Yarrow has now raised concerns about next year, when the Abbey Bridge is due to be closed for 10 weeks while it is replaced.

He said his wife’s trip into town on Monday took about three times as long as it normally would.

He said: “People will just not go into the town.

“I feel very sorry for the traders. We are trying to avoid going into Evesham and I know a lot of people will.”

Work on Abbey Bridge is set to start in October, but full closure of the road will only last for 10 weeks, between July and September 2013.

An alternative route for traffic has not yet been announced.

Jon Fraser, Worcestershire County Council’s customer and community manager, said the council had liaised with all agencies to ensure the roadworks were carried out as efficiently as possible.

More works are due to start near Evesham on Monday as the Highways Agency begins work on the A46 between Ashton-under-Hill and Beckford, which is due to finish in July.