Road users are suffering "chaos” on the roads as emergency engineering works are carried out.

Power was interrupted to 1,041 customers in Elstree Way on Thursday due to a fault in a power cable.

UK Power Network is now carrying out work in Barnet Lane in Borehamwood to try and repair the damage.

Temporary traffic lights are in operation, causing long tailbacks and major disruption to people's journeys.

Sullivans bus company, which runs the 306, has been badly hit by delays.

Its buses are already on diversion down Barnet Lane and Furzehill Road because of the Affinity Water engineering work that has closed Allum Lane.

Business manager Steve Simmons has been outside Tesco in Borehamwood all day to try and reassure customers.

He said: “The traffic lights have delayed our buses 30 minutes late coming from Borehamwood to Watford.

“We’ve put an extra bus on so passengers wishing to go round the estates can change to that one, meaning the other buses can go straight back to Watford.”

He said he was trying to do his best to reduce the inconvenience to customers.

“We understand it’s no fun waiting for a bus, but some customers have been very vociferous in their complaints about the service, they object to having to change buses.”

Another driver said he had been getting abuse from customers.

Mr Simmons added it was “unfortunate” the engineering work coincided with the closure of Allum Lane.

He added: “It’s chaos at the moment.

“I myself have been caught in huge tailbacks stretching from Elstree to Stirling Corner so I know how it feels.”

Elsie Wiggins, who lives in Sturbridge Avenue, had been forced to wait nearly an hour for a bus.

The pensioner said: “I understand there’s road works, but it’s very frustrating having to wait here with your shopping when all you want to do is get home.

“The buses are bad enough as it is.”

Borehamwood resident Lisa Norton said she was annoyed the Barnet Lane works had been schedualed while Allum Lane was out of use.

She said: “The morning rush hour was awful, it was like the schools were back.

"This afternoon was terrible as the lights were broken coming from Elstree.

“I would assume, given the diversion and extra traffic the council would insist the works would be completed as soon as possible.” 

A spokesman for UK Power Networks said the company was very sorry for the problems caused while they carried out repairs to the high voltage line.

She added: “The fault was located and permanent repairs are now taking place.

“We apologise to motorists and residents for any inconvenience while this work takes place to return the network to its usual reliable state.

“We will complete the work as quickly as we can to ensure we minimise any disruption.”