Two houses could be demolished as part of road improvements to tackle a rush hour bottleneck.

The properties, at the corner of South Street and Fairfield Road in Braintree, are set to be knocked down to widen the junction and allow buses to turn the corner more safely.

The changes include the traffic lights at the junction being removed and being replaced with a puffin crossing.

Braintree Council has bought one of the homes, number 77 which was worth about £140,000, and is in the process of buying the one next door.

The cost of the properties has not been included in the £200,000 estimate given for the work when the proposal went before the Braintree District Local Highways Panel.

Members of the panel recommended the project be approved in November.