Roadworks which last week brought Abingdon to a grinding halt will continue until the weekend.

Queues built up through the week in Drayton Road and Ock Street due to sewer works in Marcham Road.

Last week, Oxfordshire County Council's website informed motorists that works by EJC Construction for a private developer would finish last Sunday but the date has now been changed to this Saturday.

A spokesman for the construction firm said: "We apologise for any inconvenience. We will endeavour to get off the road as soon as possible."

One lane in Marcham Road, which links the town centre with the A34, has been dug up outside Abingdon Community Hospital.

Traffic lights have been put in place and are now manually monitored, which the spokesman said had reduced congestion.

After pressure from the leader of Abingdon Town Council, Lesley Legge, early warning signs have also been put up by the county council.

Mrs Legge said: "On Monday the roadworks out of town started and immediately caused severe delays in the town centre.

"Extra early warning signs appeared later in the week, but the situation highlighted again the need for an alternative route to the A34 south and west from Abingdon."

A three-mile journey home took motorist Brian Thomas more than 40 minutes.

Mr Thomas said: "Why wasn't more thought given over to this? A better traffic signalling layout could have been used or, better still, the gated road through the industrial estate could have been opened and diversion signs put up.

"Abingdon is dying and the authorities aren't listening or caring about the chaos, which is becoming part of our everyday experience."

David Morgan, 82, said it had taken him 40 minutes to drive one mile from the town centre to the hospital for an appointment.

He said: "I know they've got to do it, but I wish they would do it at night. It has definitely got worse. This place is dying, look at the shops closing."

The work is being supervised by Thames Water.

Traders blamed Abingdon's controversial traffic system, introduced at the end of 2006, for a fall in takings by driving shoppers away from the town. Local businesses have clubbed together to pay for an independent review of the system.