LONG-RUNNING roadworks faced a setback when shocked onlookers spotted an overturned truck.

Jack Cuthbert captured a video of the stranded vehicle at around 10.40am on Tuesday.

It showed the truck had overturned while carrying out work to the roundabout connecting Cowdray Avenue and Ipswich Road in Colchester.

Colchester residents took to social media to react with exasperation at the footage.

Ian Longhurst said: “A few shovels and wheel barrows would be so much quicker.

“The site’s always a mess, why can’t they get some labour in there and get the job done?”

Pauline Akbal added: “I live right on the corner of Ipswich Road.

“It’s an absolute joke. It will never be finished by the summer.”

Drivers also complained of seeing cardboard cut-out workers on site, although these are just customised information signs, not an attempt to boost the workmen numbers.

The £10 million road works, which have rumbled on since 2018, are scheduled to be completed by April.

A spokesman for Essex Highways said of the overturned vehicle: “This was an unfortunate incident resulting in a dumper vehicle ending up on its side inside the barriered-off works area.

“The vehicle was being operated by a driver from one of the site sub-contractors who have, together with principal contractor Eurovia, launched a full investigation.

“There were no reported injuries and no risk at any time to any member of the public.”

He added: “The cardboard cut-outs are there to remind workers about health and safety.

“The real workers are there – a lot of the work is underground replacing cables and pipes, or below motorists’ line of sight, so often they won’t be visible.

“Given the scale of the site we’ve definitely got our work cut out but we are aiming to finish it as soon as possible.

“We are sorry for any inconvenience because of delays.”