Drivers are ignoring diversions at a busy Brighton junction which is undergoing a major overhaul.

Residents and road workers around Seven Dials told The Argus they were furious with motorists who have been ignoring no entry signs placed around the roundabout so work can be carried out.

The Argus saw five cars flout the rules in as many minutes when a reporter visited yesterday.

Coffee shop assistant Kate Rudd, 49, said: “The road workers have been incredibly professional and patient because they have to put up with so many drivers that are continuing to ignore the signs on a daily basis.”

She added: “I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a major accident soon because of it.”

In February Brighton and Hove City Council started nine months of roadworks on Seven Dials, which will improve the safety of the area and help cut accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians.

The council said it needed to act as the junction was named “the most accident prone” in the city, with 20 accidents in the past three years.

On Monday a major new phase of the work started with two key sections of Dyke Road closed for six weeks.

Dyke Road, north of the round- about, has been closed to southbound traffic between Melville Road and the junction.

To the south Dyke Road has also been closed to northbound traffic between Bath Street and the southern end of the Seven Dials Roundabout.

A contractor working on the road said: “Many taxis are constantly ignoring the road signs, at least two every- day fail to acknowledge them.

“What people don’t understand is that we don’t put them there to annoy them, or slow them down. We put them there to protect their safety.”

Florist Ian Graham, 60, who has worked in Seven Dials for 36 years, told The Argus he has seen many changes over the years and said he doesn’t see why the work needs to be done.

He explained: “I don’t particularly see the benefits. The only benefit of the work is that the roundabout will look aesthetically nicer. Nobody likes it and nobody wants it, but it has got to be done I guess.”

He added his business has completely crashed since roadworks started outside his flower shop.

The roadworks are expected to finish on December 9.

Anyone experiencing problems with the works can email their queries or complaints to: sevendials@brighton-hove.gov.uk.