Welshpool residents are fed up with motorists ignoring official diversion routes after only three days into a three-month road closure on the outskirts of the town.

People have complained that drivers are using alternative roads while repair work to a collapsed culvert is carried out on the A458 at the Golfa Bank between Welshpool and Llanfair Caereinion.

The section of road is closed in both directions until April 14, with a long diversion in place, taking traffic from the Raven roundabout in Welshpool, through Meifod and out to Neuadd Bridge, near Llanfair Caereinion.

Welshpool Llanerchyddol Councillor Graham Breeze said: "I am receiving lots of complaints from residents living on alternative routes being used by motorists following the closure of the A458 at Spring Bank Golfa.

"It appears many are ignoring the diversion routes and using roads which are unsuitable for so much traffic."

It is understood that officers from the North & Mid Wales Trunk Agency and Powys County Council are monitoring the situation daily and will hold a review meeting later this week.

Montgomeryshire MP Craig Williams said he is hoping that the road can partially reopen with traffic lights in time for the Easter holiday weekend (April 16-17).

"Unfortunately, due to the narrowness of the trunk road at this location and the depth of the excavation required to replace the failed culvert and repair the substantial downstream retaining wall, the trunk road needs to be closed to all traffic for safety reasons," he said.

"It is hoped that the route can partially reopen (with traffic lights) in time for the Easter holiday weekend. I am hoping to meet with the contractor soon to discuss further and ensure these timescales can be met.

"There will be a diversion in operation during the closure, making use of the A490 and A495 from Neuadd Bridge to the Raven Roundabout, Welshpool along ‘A’ class roads deemed suitable for all traffic."