Pedestrians are "gambling" with traffic on a busy town centre street after highways bosses removed a set of traffic lights.

Work began three weeks ago to upgrade the pedestrian crossing in Head Street, Colchester, as part of a scheme which will see the removal of the traffic lights in Culver Street West.

The temporary removal of the lights means there is no safe way for walkers to cross the busy road at its busiest point near Odeon cinema and Hudson Bar.

Lee Scordis, councillor for Abbey Division, said pedestrians were being put in danger by the works.

He said: "They have removed the pedestrian crossing but they have not put temporary lights in.

"It happens to be the main crossing for Head Street so people are gambling with the traffic and running across the road.

"It is obviously very dangerous - you have got buses using the road and a lot of cars."

The works in Head Street, which will see a brand new set of lights installed, are set to finish on Friday, October 5.

Mr Scordis added: "I have contacted the cabinet member and the director for highways as well as one of the chief officers but I have had nothing back so far.

"They need to put some temporary street lights in to make it safer.

"The council might say there are two sets of traffic lights at either end of the road, but unfortunately people are unlikely to walk to use them."

A spokesman for Essex Highways said pedestrians were being directed to two other crossings located nearby.

He added: "During the design it was discussed and agreed that due to difficulty in finding a suitable location for a temporary pedestrian crossing, due to side roads and numerous adjacent bus stops, that alternative suitable existing signalised pedestrian crossings were available on both side of the crossing, and therefore a temporary pedestrian crossing did not need to be provided.

"Pedestrians are therefore being diverted to existing signalised pedestrian crossings located either 60m north, at Head Street and High Street junction, or 130m south, at the Headgate and St Johns Street junction. There are pedestrian diversion boards erected on site."

Culver Street West is already blocked off by a set of bollard from Monday to Saturday and when the works are complete its junction will become a 'priority junction' for drivers.