RAIN has been blamed for delays to the Goddard Avenue roadworks.

Council contractors had hoped to finish the resurfacing work on the Old Town street by the end of the week.

However, technical delays and poor weather have meant that the work is now not expected to be finished until Monday.

A spokesman for Swindon Borough Council said: “Unfortunately, the planned micro asphalt resurfacing works on Goddard Avenue, amongst work on a larger package of sites, have had to be extended into next week owing to technical delays on the part of the contractor. Additionally, this particular kind of work cannot be carried out in rain for technical reasons, which has further delayed completion of the project.

“However, the contractor has been working on site again on Friday and has now completed the first phase of the surfacing work. The remainder of the work is due to take place on Monday, September 25, weather permitting.”

The delays to the works, which had been due to begin on Monday and last two days, have riled residents on leafy Goddard Avenue.

Resident Phillipa Jones yesterday posted a picture on social media of a roadworks sign showing the delays. “I thought it was April Fools,” she wrote. “But no.”

Old Town councillor Nadine Watts replied to residents’ anger on Facebook: “I share your frustrations and agree that it isn’t good enough. The contractor had a mechanical failure at the weekend and another one yesterday which has added to the delay.”