GRASS verges have been left in a "shocking" state after drivers used a single track road as an unofficial diversion when a water main burst.

Businessman Andrew Grant says verges along Chapel Lane, in Bransford, near Worcester, have been churned up into a muddy mess by drivers trying to squeeze past each other on the narrow road.

The main road through the village, the A4103, was shut on Friday and Saturday while Severn Trent engineers worked to repair a burst water main.

A diversion was put in place, signposting drivers to use main roads - however it seems many motorists ignored the instructions put in place by Severn Trent's traffic management company.

Mr Grant, director of Andrew Grant Estate Agents, said: "People were using it to get through and it was causing chaos at some times because there was so many cars and it is only one way.

"I think it could have been organised a bit better. It is just very muddy - yesterday it was shocking.

"When I drove down there I had to give way several times and the only way is by going onto the verges and at this time of year, it is very wet and muddy."

Worcestershire County Council, which maintains the county's highways, said it is reviewing the damage.

A council spokesman said: "The works were for an emergency to repair a water leak in Bransford and acted upon by Severn Trent Water and their traffic management company.

"The official diversion used main roads as an alternative. This was appropriate and a requirement as when a main road closes, the diversion route needs to cope with all types of traffic.

"The diversion route was signposted accordingly by Severn Trent's traffic management company.

"Unfortunately some motorists appear to have ignored this and used Chapel Lane as an alternative. We are currently reviewing any damage as a result."

A spokesman for Severn Trent said: "Our teams attended to a burst water pipe along the A4103 Bransford in Worcester on Friday, January 13.

"To keep our engineers and other road users safe, we had to close a section of the road as we repaired the pipe.

"We’re really sorry for the inconvenience this may have caused. However, once the pipe was fixed the road was fully re-opened on Sunday."