Motorists are facing roadwork chaos through Coltishall today as two week's of essential repairs get underway.

The High Street has been closed off to cars from 7.30am as contractors from the county council carry out the �256,000 worth of repair and resurfacing work.

But businesses say the disruption has hit their trade while diversions have confused motorists, with some heading the wrong way down a one way street in the village.

Tony Parkes, an assistant at the Island filling station, said customers had been commenting about the works.

'They have all been saying it's chaos out there but there's not a lot we can do about it,' he added, 'It's got to be done, in places the road is bad.'

Staff at the Railway Tavern said they had noticed a drop in customer numbers on what should have been a busy Sunday lunchtime and pointed to the roadworks as it was stopping people getting through.

Colin Piesse, owner of Bridge House B&B in the High Street, thought bus services were going to have difficulty as the closures continue.

He added: 'This is a very busy road so if all the traffic is going via Wroxham, Wroxham is going to be somewhere to avoid over the next week.

'It's something that's badly needed to be done because the state of the roads has been quite bad. It's a week of pain to get the aim.'

The roadworks are being carried out in phases with the first closing Great Hautbois Road to Church Street today and tomorrow from 7.30am to 5pm. Diversions have been put in place via the B1150 North Walsham Road, B1145 Aylsham Road, A140 and B1354 Coltishall.

But the alternative route was causing problems for some drivers with parish councillor John Harding reporting seeing some go the wrong way down the one way system through Rectory Road, instead of taking the Westbourne Road turning.

He thought this may cause problems during tomorrow's rush hour but said Norfolk County Council's highways department had given residents and motorists plenty of warning.

'The work has to be done. It's just unfortunate that we're in the middle of the roads that are important for people from North Walsham and for people to get to Wroxham,' he added. 'Obviously it's going to effect businesses but they (the workmen) are cracking on with it.'

The phased closures will continue in Westbourne Road and Coltishall river bridge, which will be closed from 7.30am - 5pm on Thursday and Friday and overnight on Thursday. This will be followed by work on Church Street from Monday, October 31 until Tuesday, November 8.

? For more information on the roadworks and diversions visit www.roadworks.norfolk.gov.uk or www.coltishall.org.uk and follow the 'hot news' link.