A Shipley road is to be dug up to allow new gas pipes to be laid - just days after Bradford Council resurfaced it.

Gas company Transco warned residents in Avondale Road earlier this month that roads in the area would have to be excavated to allow new pipes to be laid.

So the residents were bemused when Council workers set about resurfacing some of the roads involved, including Scarborough Road and Marlborough Road.

One local woman even approached the workers carrying out the improvements to explain the situation, but he told her: "It's not my problem."

Angry residents claim that public money has been wasted on the project.

And they added that the loose chipping surface that has been put down is unsuitable for the street that runs to the back of their houses because it is dangerous for children who like to play there.

Resident Keith Mackin, 53, said: "I couldn't believe it. It is just typical of the planning that does not seem to take place in council departments.

"It is an inconvenience and a waste of money. The surface they have used is a cheap way of doing things in the first place. Everyone around here feels the same about what has gone on.

"Chippings may be a cheap alternative to tarmac, but how much cheaper it would have been in the long run if the work had been done after Transco had finished their work."

Hilary Atkinson, 39, agreed that there should have been better communication between the Council and Transco.

"I think it is absolutely ridiculous," she said. "I wouldn't mind so much if they had done the job properly but they haven't. The same has happened before on the roads around here."

A spokesman for the Council said that the work was part of a large scheme to improve road surfaces in the district.

He said: "The back roads of Scarborough Road and Marlborough Road were given a surface dressing before we received notification from Transco that they intended to carry out work on the same back streets.

"Transco was informed that the Council was planning to carry out surface dressing work on these streets."

A spokesman for Transco confirmed that work would be taking place on the streets and said the Council had failed to inform Transco of their work.

However, he claimed the disruption to local residents would be minor. "On these streets we will be using advanced techniques which will mean only minimal excavation work will be necessary."