TWO of the three council workers suspended over Worcester's Ketch island fiasco have been allowed to go back, it has emerged.

Your Worcester News understands that Worcestershire County Council has allowed them to return despite the investigation into the roundabout saga not yet concluding.

Bosses at the council yesterday reiterated their position in not offering comment on the fate of the trio, who were put on gardening leave amid concerns over how much safety assessment work was done before the revamped island went live.

But workers inside the department have contacted this newspaper and revealed how only one of the suspended staff members now remains at home.

The independent investigation into all three is expected to wrap up some this autumn.

A spokesman said: "There is an ongoing investigation and we the anticipate findings will be available in the autumn.

"We are unable to make any further comment until then."

But one worker who contacted this newspaper said: "They're back around the place now.

"The whole thing has been very unfortunate for anyone working here."

One of the council's senior roads bosses was unaware this week that two of them were back at work, highways manager Jon Fraser.

Mr Fraser has been doing more work on the 'world class' Worcestershire project, a marketing theme aimed at promoting the county as a place to live, work and invest, rather than the Ketch.

It comes as members of the senior Conservative leadership admitted they want to see an end to the saga as quickly as possible.

Councillor John Smith, cabinet member for highways, said: "From what I understand the first phase of the investigation is done and I expect them to wrap it up within the next three or four weeks, which is welcome as we all want to see it complete."

The suspensions followed an unprecedented apology by council chiefs following the coning off of two lanes under emergency measures after a Facebook video highlighting safety concerns was viewed 83,000 times.

In June permanent changes were then made to the £8 million island following a hurried safety assessment, including the hatching off of the controversial merger lane at the exit for Carrington Bridge.

The new-look Ketch is part of the dualling of most of the A4440 Southern Link Road, a scheme which will run all the way up to Whittington island at one end.