TAILBACKS caused by engineering work at a major road junction are due to ease over the festive season when the scheme is halted for two weeks.

The £7.2 million pound road improvement scheme at Gants Hill roundabout has caused travel misery for thousands of drivers on the A12 and surrounding streets since it began in June.

The project - which has reduced traffic flow to one lane at the junction - will be halted between December 23 and January 4.

Transport for London (TfL), which is financing the scheme, has announced that the work is finally due to be completed by next summer.

A spokesman for TfL said: "During this time, TfL will remove all non-essential traffic management measures to help improve access to the area during the Christmas break."