Following many complaints and Conservative Councillor's calls for a rethink, Bedford Borough Council have made changes to their ‘Northern Gateway’ works between Clapham Road and Paula Radcliffe Way roundabouts to try and ease and ease serious traffic jams that threatened to ruin the Christmas trading period for Bedford’s businesses.

The changes include manual control of lights, night time working and re-opening of northbound out of town second lane during peak times.

Conservative Deputy Group Leader Councillor Roger Rigby said: “I welcome this timely U-turn to reduce the serious traffic delays at the Northern Gateway reconstruction site.

We will soon know whether it will be enough to restore people’s faith in their ability to get in and out of Bedford given the other road projects that are also underway in other parts of the town.

I hope the measures will be enough to allow the town to enjoy a prosperous and festive Christmas.”