Overnight closures were implemented or planned on the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey for the equivalent of a 33 full weeks last year, figures have revealed.

A freedom of information request shows the overnight works, which normally run between the hours of 8pm and 6pm, were used on more than 60 per cent of the total days in 2017.

Most of the works were part of a major £6 million investment scheme conducted by Highways England, which began in January and was initially meant to finish in May.

However the works overran until the end of the year, and still have not been completed.

Ian Kropidlowski took over as landlord of The Dolphin pub, off the A120 in Stisted, in June last year.

"Of course the roadworks have effected my business, there is no doubt about that," he said.

"But the thing I find has been more frustrating is the lack of information for people to find out what is going on.

"I seem to have been one of the only people to be emailed regular updates.

"I would say the levels of organisation have got better, some of the signage at first was misleading for the public.

"I can certainly understand people's frustrations because it seems to have been going on forever."

The former landlord of the pub, Ashley Winsbury-Cutts cited years of problems with the A120 as one reason why he and his partner decided to leave the business. The Spicy Swan in Bradwell also shut temporarily last year due to the overrunning work, but has now reopened.

Highways England is implementing safety improvements, structural repairs and drainage work during the works and said it did repairs overnight to save drivers disruption.

A spokesman said: "We always try and carry out our road improvements in the least disruptive way possible and, by packaging together specific maintenance tasks, we can get best value for taxpayers.

"Since last April on the A120 we have completed resurfacing between Marks Tey and Bradwell. We have also carried out vital road repairs between Marks Farm and Marks Tey, and renewed street lighting here too.

"We have carried out several improvements to road markings and signs between Marks Farm and Coggeshall, in addition to some junction improvements. All this work contributes to better, safer journeys on the A120.

"The vast majority of this work has been carried out overnight, with restrictions removed during the day."