Brazen motorists drive through farmer’s field to avoid 11-mile diversion

BRAZEN motorists - including a Royal Mail van - are driving across a farmer's field to avoid an 11 mile roadworks diversion.

Dozens of vehicles have been filmed driving across the recently mowed hay field in Lakenheath, Suffolk after a 20-metre section of main road was closed to traffic.

The off-road route has become popular amongst impatient motorists who don't want to face the longer journey to get to the other side of the village.

The field leads on to the back of residential homes where neighbours say cars have been cutting through the area.

The roadworks are blocking a section of the B1112 which residents use to travel less than half a mile from one end of the village to the other.

Drivers face a staggering 11 mile diversion to get from Mutford Green to Hall Drive in the village - if the road is closed - via Station Road, Wingfield Road, Brandon Road, and Little Hemsworth.

When the footage of motorists using the shortcut was shared on social media, exasperated homeowners blasted the drivers as "disgraceful".

Susan North, who often walks her dog around the same field, says "it is a bit intimidating" and there are "not many places I can get off the track to let vehicles pass."

Mark Hayes added: "Blimey there are some really lazy drivers out there."

Ruth Tierny wrote: "Name & shame them!! Disgraceful."

Although there was an uproar among the residents, a lot of people stuck up for the drivers because the roadworks can be an 'inconvenience'.

Lisa Waller wrote on Facebook: "No defence for the drivers, but maybe show a little urgency in the works so people don't feel the need to off-road it across the fields."

Liam Donovan added: "If it's a main used road with no 'close by diversion' sign don't close the whole road down, work on one side then when you have finished work on the other you can keep the traffic going - its been done many times.

"What do you expect. Today I drove past an open barrier saying road closed, to find the work being done on one side.

"Other people was diverting for no reason you have got to chance it sometimes because 80 per cent of times it says "road closed" it nothing turns out to be happening.

"No offence to the workers though, this is just what I come across on a daily driving job."

And one person particularly stuck up for the drivers, as Renier Jansen wrote: "Love it! If there is a will there is a way!"