A BUSY Worcester road was closed in one direction today while Severn Trent Water worked at a house – but the workmen were in the wrong place.

A Worcester News reporter approached the workmen outside the property in Newtown Road and one said the road would be closed for three days with a diversion set up to access Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

First Bus also expected the road to be shut, tweeting: “Due to an emergency road closure by Severn Trent Water, the 38 will not be able to serve Newtown Road and Canterbury Road towards the hospital. All services, are diverting via Sheriff Street – Tolladine and Woodgreen Drive.”

But Jon Fraser, Worcestershire County Council’s Highways manager, told the Worcester News he was not aware of any roadworks in Newtown Road and that nobody had asked permission to shut the road.

Mr Frazer said: “We sent an inspector down there and they deemed the site to be unsafe. Severn Trent Water did not get permission to undertake these works on Newtown Road and therefore they were asked to leave and come back when they have followed the proper procedure.”

A spokesman for Severn Trent Water said: “It looks as though one of our teams made a mistake about the location for the work. We’d like to apologise to anyone who was affected by the team as they started to set up.”

Newtown Road therefore remains open for the time being.