The wisdom of roadworks bosses has been questioned – after they published plans to divert drivers the wrong way through Sidmouth’s narrow town centre streets.

Devon County Council (DCC) has issued a traffic order to provide a new water supply to Old Fore Street, which should see it closed for three days.

Motorists face a winding route to navigate around the diversion, which takes them north along High Street, west along All Saints Road, then into the town the wrong way down one-way Church Street – and vice versa.

Town councillor John Dyson called out the plans at last Monday’s meeting, saying: “I think whoever drew that up ought to be aware which are one-way streets.”

A DCC spokesman said: “We apologise for the administrative error, but rest assured that the diversion to avoid Old Fore Street – using Fore Street and New Street – will be signed correctly.”

May Gurney will carry out the work from September 7 to 9.