DRIVERS were furious after a major road was closed without proper authorisation from the council.

Residents took to the Spotted: Didcot Facebook page in anger this week reporting that the Ladygrove Road out of Didcot towards Abingdon had been closed until December.

Drivers commented on the post and referred the road closure between Didcot and Long Wittenham as a ‘traffic nightmare’ – however, the road was then reopened to vehicles.

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Oxfordshire County council said: "The closure in Long Wittenham was unauthorised and was removed.

"Although the utility company involved applied for a permit, they failed to apply for the correct temporary traffic regulation order to accompany the closure."

The county council confirmed the utility company that applied to close the road was BT Openreach.

Openreach said it was ‘unable to find any reference to works being done in Long Wittenham’ and did not comment.