Use the signed diversions, Island Roads is telling people driving through East Cowes.

It comes as residents in the Old Road area of the town say they are dealing with an increase in speeding and a rise in the number of large vehicles using what is normally a quiet route.

Meanwhile, this near miss was photographed on Clarence Road this week, by a local resident, as lorries and buses vied for space on a route normally reserved for local traffic.

The main road into East Cowes is currently closed, while Island Roads works on York Avenue.

The project is running behind time and resurfacing is not expected until June 17.

Until then, a diversion is in place along Victoria Grove, Adelaide Grove, Yarborough Road and Clarence Road, but much of that official route is through residential areas.

Traffic to and from Red Funnel, GKN, Waitrose and the Floating Bridge is all being diverted and scores of parking spaces, including for struggling local shops, have been lost.

In Yarborough Road, there have been complaints of shaking houses and dangerous speeds but Island Roads has said a temporary 20mph limit could not be enforced.

Isle of Wight County Press:

On the other side of town, a similar issue has arisen.

Councillor Karl Love said he feared someone would be killed by a combination of excess speed, increased traffic and no pavements along Old Road, which is being used as an unofficial diversion.

It was made worse by problems with the cancellation of some Red Funnel ferry sailings over the last week.

In a statement, Island Roads said it was 'respectfully reminding all road users to use the signed diversions.'

It said: "This diversion offers a safe route for all traffic coming in and out of the town including vehicles using the Red Funnel ferry.

"We are aware of some local concerns about traffic using alternative routes.

"These alternative routes were not selected as the diversion route as they are not considered suitable for the volume of traffic or the larger vehicles that would normally use York Avenue."

It said additional signs have been put out to discourage traffic from using Old Road.

Meanwhile, communications firm Wight Fibre has now begun work in Sylvan Avenue, which requires a short diversion via Old Road.