RESIDENTS have reopened a road by moving the closure signs on to the grass verge in an act of defiance.

Locals took action after Severn Trent Water repaired a boundary box but left the road closure in place.

Severn Trent Water could not reopen the road on Friday, January 20, because there were no teams available to repair the surface.

The incident happened after Worcestershire County Council granted a five day closure of Stocks Road, in Suckley, from Friday, January 20 to Tuesday, January 24.

Peter Whatley, chairman of Suckley Parish Council, called the closure period 'disproportionate' and sympathised with those who moved the signs.

But Worcestershire County Council said work at the site, which is near The Bruff Business Centre, was still taking place this weekend.

Cllr Whatley, 56, said: "Somebody shifted the signs on Friday. They have been moved to the side of the road.

"Local residents have done this, it seems the sensible thing to do when there's no reason for them.

"The actual site is completely passable by vehicles, including the school buses which have to use the route.

"The road is still officially closed and Severn Trent left the site with a hole in the road."

Mr Whatley insists that moving road signs is wrong but said it was a reasonable response to the closure of the thoroughfare.

"The period [of closure] is grossly disproportionate for the work involved," he added.

"We are annoyed. Everyone is extremely frustrated. It's not the first time a road closure has been authorised for no good reason."

He said the road is the only route for lorries to get to farms and that the closure had caused chaos on Friday.

Severn Trent Water were supposed to reopen the road today (January 23) but were not able to because of 'unforeseen circumstances'.

A spokesman for the company said: "We know there is never an ideal time to close roads but the nature of our work means it is often required to allow our engineers to work safely.

"We’re sorry for any inconvenience this caused to people in the village."

The company intends to reopen the road tomorrow (January 24).

A Worcestershire County Council spokesperson said they granted an emergency closure, which could be extended to a maximum of five days, as is 'standard practice'.

"We understand that Severn Trent Water repaired the boundary box on Friday afternoon," the spokesman added.

"Severn Trent Water backfilled on Saturday and will be completing reinstatement and removing traffic management today (January 23)."

UPDATE (January 26): Severn Trent Water reinstated and reopened the road on Tuesday, January 24.

A West Mercia Police spokesman said that providing the signs were put out legally it would be an offence to remove them and punishable with a fine of up to £1,000.