A COMPLETE and utter farce from start to finish.

That is how residents of a Poole street have described a set of roadworks that have blighted their lives for eight months.

Amazingly, the gasworks on Kitchener Crescent are still rumbling on, with the road being dug up for the third time.

“I cannot believe that after all this time, not only are the roadworks still not finished, but they are now digging up the road again,” said exasperated resident Scott Merrifield.

“How much longer do we have to endure this for?”

The infuriating saga began at Easter when Southern Gas Networks commenced the work to lay new mains.

In August, residents thought the work had finished but workmen reappeared, telling residents the pipes needed to be extended into each property.

More weeks of frustration ensued, including blocked driveways and the accidental switch off of residents’ gas supplies.

But just when a welcome conclusion once again looked on the horizon, the digging has begun again - apparently because as the tarmac was not laid correctly.

“I am getting a feeling of déjà vu,” said Mr Merrifield.

“This is all quite worrying when you are talking about gas pipes.”

Mr Merrifield said Kitchener Crescent was home to Hillbourne School and at times the gasworks had made the road “extremely dangerous”.

Southern Gas Networks admitted there had been slow progress due to “poor ground conditions” and that having to dig up the road again was “regrettable”.

A spokesman said: “There was a gap between the installation of the new main and the renewal of the services because the resources were being used to carry out other work on this project.

“Sections of the trench have not met the standard required and we are having to re-excavate the surface and re-lay it.”

The £500,000 works are replacing 2.5km of metal pipes with new polythene mains.