Engineers are finally on their way to the traffic lights at the Ancient Briton junction in St Albans, which have been causing chaos since Friday.

One local mum-of-two who did not want to be named said that “it is only a matter of time before someone is killed” and added that her children routinely use the crossings to get to and from school.

She said: “I first noticed in on Friday and thought that they must be doing some work over the weekend - but nothing seemed to be done.

“The traffic is slowing up as it approaches the junction, but it is very, very busy. I am concerned as a parent of school-going children.”

Another resident, Brenda Crockett of Harpenden Road, said: “The traffic was so much better, but obviously there’s much more potential for an accident.”

A spokesman from Ringway, the county council’s highways contractor, said that engineers would be visiting the site today, but could not say how long it might take before the lights are functioning properly again.