A double set of temporary lights along the seafront caused delays of up to 50 minutes for commuters.

An emergency cable fault outside Commerce House forced Electricity Board engineers to dig up the road.

Traffic Committee President, Deputy Pat Mellor, said legislation controlling contractors was due to come into effect next week, which she hoped would alleviate the situation.

She said: "Obviously we won't be able to stop emergencies happening, but what we will be able to do is say 'If you don't comply with the rules we lay down, matey, you are going to be fined.

"We will have the ability to do that and I believe once we have got that the contractors will listen much more carefully and they will abide by the rules."