Now, new figures have revealed the hotspots where roadworks overran the longest - with the worst hold-ups caused by a simple failure to collect signs.

Roadworks being carried out by utilities companies overran by a whopping 1,317 days in 2024, causing the equivalent of more than three-and-a-half years of disruption.

Anglian Water received 165 fines from Norfolk County Council for overrunning roadworks, according to statistics obtained through the Freedom Of Information Act.

This made it the utility company dealt the most fines.

In three of the worst cases of delays, the company failed to remove road signs after the completion of works - meaning drivers were held up for days on end without any real cause.

In Buxton Road, Cawston, Anglian Water roadworks overran for 57 days.

Buxton Road in Cawston (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Work there began on July 17 last year and should have finished by July 22, but the signs were still in place two months later.

Holt Road in Weybourne (Image: Sonya Duncan)

In Holt Road, Weybourne, its work overran by 44 days, while a scheme in March Riverside, at Upwell, went on for 37 days beyond the anticipated end date.

The water company was issued with fines of £14,250, £11,000 and £13,875 by Norfolk County Council for the trio of incidents, but ended up paying just £100 for the first two schemes and £3,700 for the Upwell overrun.

© Eastern Daily Press