"UTTER chaos" has been caused outside of city primary school by "ridiculously" timed roadworks, said one councillor.

Cars have been forced to move around large construction vehicles and occasionally mount the pavement while the work is being carried out by utility firm Power On in Henwick Road.

It is causing great concern to parents of children at St Clement's CofE Primary School.

Cllr Richard Udall, Worcestershire County and Worcester City councillor for St John's said it has been chaotic.

"It’s utter chaos at school time on Henwick Road, outside St Clements School. Roadworks closing off parking spaces, machinery obstructing pavements, and parents and children struggling to get to school."

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"It is ridiculous in the extreme to have started this work, which I believe is not essential, at the start of a school term outside a small primary school. 

"We have had the long summer holidays for this to happen, to start now just beggars belief. 

"The lack of information and no prior warning is also very bad. 

"This is a residential road and people living here deserve more respect.

"I have no doubt that the work has to be done but it could have been organised and planned better than this.

"I hope all those involved recognise their errors and will learn from them."

The work began on Monday, September 4 - the start of the new school term.

Multi-way traffic lights are in place and the work is expected to last until Wednesday, October 25.

Miss McLean, headteacher at St Clement's CofE Primary School, said: "There are roadworks outside of the school which have been causing a bit of a problem for parents collecting their children.

"We have just had a six-week holiday so I am not sure why these works could not have been carried out in this time?"

Neil Fitzsimons, managing director of Power On, apologised for the delay but claims people have been made aware in advance.

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He said: "It was an unfortunate coincidence of events that caused the obstruction to the drop-off point for the children on Friday morning at St. Clement’s, for which we were responsible, and for which we sincerely apologise.

"We had scheduled the roadworks close to the school to be completed before the children returned for the start of the new school year, but an unavoidable delay meant that the two coincided.

"The arrival of a heavy-goods vehicle at the time of the school drop-off and the obstruction it caused was unacceptable, even more so when it could have been avoided by better planning on the ground.

"We perfectly understand Mr Udall’s frustration at what happened, but would wish to correct him on one point: the neighbourhood was alerted to the road works, in writing, in advance."

Mr Fitzimons said the work close to the school will be completed by Friday, September 15.