A MORETON flood victim has made an eleventh-hour appeal to Gloucestershire Highways to delay road works due to start outside his home this week.

Charles Harmsen, 53, who lives on the High Street service road, where resurfacing works are being carried out between the Bell Inn and Townend Cottage, had arranged for removal men and builders to start work clearing and repairing his flood damaged cottage on February 22.

However, he received a letter from Gloucestershire Highways last week telling him that due to the roadworks that there will be no parking or access to vehicles during the work, which is scheduled to last three weeks.

The roadworks also include the building of a long-awaited pedestrian refuge on the A429 Fosseway near Budgens supermarket "We will be reinstating our homes and we will be bringing workmen through," said a furious Mr Harmsen, who is seriously ill and receiving regular hospital treatment.

"I've got skips and removers coming. I've told them I will jump in the truck myself and drive it through," he added.

He said other neighbours along the road were also having flood repair work carried out on their homes.

"Our work is due to take five to six weeks. If they had consulted us this could have been avoided. It's just common sense that is needed," he added.

Gloucestershire Highways stakeholder manager Bob Skillern has written to Mr Harmsen saying that the workforce will be briefed on the situation and will be instructed "to allow reasonable access for builders and residents".

Mr Skillern told the Journal on Tuesday that postponing the work was "not an option" as the contractors were ready to go.

"We will bend over backwards so his work is not disrupted," he said.

Skips would be permitted outside the affected homes from February 23 as the work should be completed on that section of road by then, he added.