Contractors have been urged to cover up four shallow holes and take away temporary traffic lights in March town centre until they are ready to fix a gas leak.

Workers arrived on Wednesday (23) to investigate a gas leak on the corner of Darthill and Dartford Road but after carrying out initial investigations they went - leaving behind a trail of “horrendous” traffic devastation.

Nobody has been on site since last week and today (Monday 28) there is still no workers there to complete the repair.

Tailbacks have built up at all times of day and night for residents and local businesses said councillor Kit Owen, who urged National Grid to cover the holes with temporary covers or temporary tarmac until the workers can return.

“It’s horrendous. The town is in a sate of grid lock while we all wait for this work to be completed - yet there isn’t anybody on site.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen the town congestion this bad.

“It is not only frustrating for people living here but must be bad for business. It wouldn’t take much to temporarily over up these holes as they are only about three inches deep.

“If you get stuck you can’t even duck off on another road to find a different way around town as the congestion is so bad everywhere is grid locked.

“It is causing mayhem for everybody,” he said.

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire County Council said: “Our inspector has spoken to contractors National Grid in order to ask them to improve traffic management.”