Roadworks which were abandoned half-finished because blundering council officials failed to apply for the right licence are to re-start in three weeks.

But this time the council is to introduce lane closures and a diversion after temporary traffic lights caused chaos in September.

Motorists will still be faced with lengthy tailbacks, however, as the work, which is being carried out to replace kerbing, is at the main entrance to the Abbey Meads estate at the junction with Elstree Way and Lady Lane.

Swindon Council was forced to abandon them in early October because officials did not obtain a licence to put up the temporary lights when they started work on September 25.

They were inundated with scores of complaints from local residents because the lights caused queues stretching towards Akers Way.

Now the section of road affected from the junction with Elstree Way to the roundabout with Elstree Way and Shepperton Way will be open to northbound traffic only from November 27. Southbound traffic will be diverted via Elstree Way.

The work is expected to last for eight days but could go on until December 11 if it is not completed in time.

No-one from Swindon Council was available to comment.

Swindon has been plagu-ed by roadworks carried out by the council and cable companies for months and more and more are being announced.

Repairs to seven overbridges and underbridges on the M4 near the West Swindon junction started yesterday. Lane closures, a 50mph speed limit and speed cameras are being introduced on the motorway underneath the overbridges while at the underbridges 24-hour traffic signals will be in operation leaving just one lane open.

Work is ongoing in Mead Way, Great Western Way, Corporation Street, Princes Street, Groundwell Road, Drove Road, Queens Drive and Oxford Road as cable companies lay ducts.

And at the junction of Great Western Way, Mead Way and Paddington Drive, Swindon Council and Ford Brothers Contractors are carrying out more than £500,000 of improvements to the roundabout.