A burst water main on Clarence Road in East Cowes has been fixed.

Damage to the road - which was the main diversion route to the York Avenue roadworks - is now being repaired and will be finished by mid to late Friday afternoon, Island Roads says it has been told by Southern Water.

When it is complete, the original diversion route through the town will be reinstated.

Island Roads said: "We have been working with Red Funnel and Southern Water to address issues that have been causing congestion and other traffic-related issues in East Cowes."

Southern Water, meanwhile, said it had been waiting for tarmac to resurface Clarence Road.

It said: “We are sorry for the disruption caused by temporary traffic management in Clarence Road, which was put in place yesterday as we worked on a burst pipe that feeds a property.

"This repair was completed yesterday, however, the reinstatement of the road by our contractors had to wait until delivery of tarmac - which is due today around lunchtime.

"We wish to assure everyone that work to reinstate the road as soon as possible is the priority."

Problems have peaked today (Friday) because of delays and cancellations on Red Funnel's Southampton to East Cowes vehicle ferries.

Full story: Red Funnel statement after major delays and East Cowes gridlock

Island Roads said: "It is clearly unfortunate that a burst water main in Clarence Road and then disruptions to ferry services have coincided with our work to improve sections of York Avenue, the final phase (the resurfacing) of which began last night.

"We have also been in regular contact with Red Funnel. They are working hard to help marshal ferry traffic, advise customers of rescheduled sailings and to resolve the issues that have seen a ship temporarily removed from service."

Last night, Island Roads started resufacing York Avenue.

The delayed work was originally due to have started on June 2.

However, it is warning there could now be even more delays - this time due to the weather.

It said: "We have completed the reconstruction phase and last night, despite the poor weather, began the resurfacing phase.

"We will continue this work tonight.

"However the physical laying of the new surface does require favourable conditions so we are, in this respect, at the mercy of the weather. We will of course keep residents informed of progress."

Meanwhile, roads remain gridlocked in East Cowes and ferry passengers from as far afield as Essex and Norwich have told the County Press they have spent hours in the queue.

An East Cowes hairdresser says she cancelled all her clients yesterday and has faced more cancellations today, including one woman who spent two hours on a bus getting from one end of East Cowes to another and had to turn around and go home again.

The County Press broadcast this Facebook Live at lunchtime...

One couple trying to get home to Southampton said it had 'put a dampener' on the end of their holdiday here, while an Island woman who cancelled her trip earlier this month because of problems with Red Eagle and rebooked till today, said she was trying to get to Longleat but had spend hours at a standstill.

Island Roads said: "We do appreciate this work has caused local disruption, particularly so due to the unforeseeable events of the past 24 hours.

"We would, again, like to apologise for any inconvenience and are sincerely grateful to the local community for its support and understanding.

"We would also like to thank Red Funnel and Southern Water for their co-operation."

UPDATE 4pm: Clarence Road has now re-opened. This means the original diversion is now back in place.