DRIVERS in Swindon say they are being sent in circles by diversion routes at the Coate Water roundabout.

The routes have been put in place while a new surface was being laid and fresh lines painted.

But these diversions have been sending motorists heading towards the M4 then back on themselves in a loop.

And the lane lines have caused an issue as they do not match when coming out of Dorcan Way.

Mike Boswell lives in Newbury but has a Swindon Town FC season ticket. He travels to watch every home game and has been doing so for many years.

After Tuesday's evening game, Mike was trying to make his journey home via the Coate Water roundabout but he was sent on a diversion that eventually brought him back to where he started.

“I thought I knew Swindon well considering myself and my family come here all the time, but the diversion put me in territory I had never been," he said.

“I followed all the signs but all that done was made me go back on myself, even when I tried an alternative route from the diversion it still didn’t work.”

He added: “It’s a good job we weren’t trying to get to the hospital otherwise that could have been fatal.”

Mike says he ended up being diverted into the Holiday Inn car park along with 20 other vehicles and if it wasn’t for help from a local he thinks he would have been on the same merry-go-round.

He was prepared to drive all the way across town to the Abbey Stadium to get on the M4 from the A419.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “The £270,000 improvement project at Coate roundabout is vital to ensure the road surface remains in good condition for years to come.

“We have worked tirelessly over a number of nights to get the job done but, unfortunately, the new road markings were laid before the accompanying signage was updated. This was clearly a big oversight and we hope it did not inconvenience motorists too much.

“The old sign has now been removed and a new one will be in place this morning. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for bearing with us while the works take place.”

The roundabout was due to be improved in August, but contractual issues meant the work was put on hold.

The new surface was laid overnight from October 15.