A COMPANY was prosecuted yesterday for not completing roadworks on time, causing an unnecessary traffic jam.

Consett magistrates ordered Northumbrian Water to pay a £500 fine and £190 costs for failing to execute works at times other than that directed, in Durham City last year.

The court heard that it was the first time the company had been prosecuted successfully, even though it dealt with an average of 4,500 pipe repair jobs involving digging up roads, every month.

Durham County Council took the case to court after an employee noticed work had not been completed at Durham City's New Elvet and Old Elvet junction at the agreed time of 3.30pm on one day during a six-week work programme.

The council first complained to Northumbrian Water when the authority's business manager, Dave Wafer, noticed the work was causing a half-mile tail-back in the city at about 5.05pm on August 14, last year, more than an hour-and-a-half after work had been due to be completed.

Speaking outside the court, Durham County Council solicitor Patricia Holding said Mr Wafer had been stuck on a coach for more than 20 minutes.

She said: "The work was finishing about then, but Mr Wafer, unlike other passengers and motorists, knew it should have been completed some time earlier.

"We have had a lot of meetings about this prosecution and it has been a sensitive matter."

Northumbrian Water solicitor Paul Kelly asked the court to take account of the fact that the company had pleaded guilty at the first possible opportunity.

He said the decision by the company's contractors had been made to try to prevent even further disruption.

The workers had wanted to rectify a problem before the situation deteriorated futher, which would have meant digging up the entire road.

He said: "It was the wrong decision for our contractors, Kentons, to continue working and we accept that the final responsibility lies with us, but it was done in an attempt to reduce the impact to the public."