The temporary traffic lights have been in place on the A40 since 2000

It is believed the 'temporary' traffic lights on a 100-yard stretch of the A40 near Llandovery are the longest standing on a main road in Wales.

Local people say they have become a standing joke among tourists and lorry drivers.

The Welsh Assembly Government says a land dispute has held up work but now it has been settled the road will be repaired shortly.

You get a lot of tourists coming down every year and they say they know they are on the right road when they reach the lights Debbie James

Cones have cordoned off one of the lanes on the A40 near Llandovery since 2000.

Part of the road began to crumble, collapsing down a 50ft drop to the river below.

The A40 links many parts of mid-Wales with Carmarthenshire and the ferry ports of Pembrokeshire.

Debbie James runs Debbie's Diner road-side snack bar just a mile from the lights.

"They have been there almost as long as I can remember," she said.

"What you find with Llandovery is you can always tell when they are on green or red because you get a surge of traffic, then nothing then another surge.

"Nobody has got a good word to say about them.

Debbie James said motorists would be delighted to see the lights go

"They have been a standing joke here because you get a lot of tourists coming down every year and they say they know they are on the right road when they reach the lights.

"I'll be pleased to see the back of them - I just hope it's in my lifetime."

Motorcyclists say they are a danger because the section closed is on a steep bend.

One regular visitor to the snack bar said: "The lights are right by the bend and you sometimes find once they have gone green and you start to go around the corner there are still cars coming in the other direction.

"They just ignore the lights and it's a 60mph road so they can be coming quite fast at times."

A spokesman for the Assembly Government admitted the work should have been completed sooner but said there was an issue over ownership of the adjoining land.

He said this had now been settled and contracts would be awarded shortly so the work should be completed this financial year.

"It's not been ideal," he added.