TRAFFIC in Headington has been slowed to a near crawl tonight due to temporary traffic lights in Windmill Road.

The lights and barriers have been put in place while work is carried out by Thames Water to connect nine new properties to the water supply, and is expected to take until the end of next week.

It is part of work to convert the former Bury Knowle Club into flats.

But as a result, drivers and bus operators were reporting tailbacks on other main routes such as London Road, which has a four-way junction nearby.

Oxford Bus Company said its number 8 service was experiencing delays as a result. 

A spokeswoman for Thames Water said: "There will be periods next week when the lights won’t be needed so at these times we’ll switch them off to keep disruption to a minimum.

"Our work to connect nine new properties to the water supply network is being done at the request of the developer. 

"We expect to be finished by the end of next week and in the meantime have marshals controlling the temporary lights during peak times to keep traffic moving as best we can."

The spokeswoman added the traffic lights and barriers would be left in place at stages when concrete used to fill holes was setting, with workers sent elsewhere while this happens.