BACK in the 1960s a hit single was spawned when comic crooner Bernard Cribbins sang about the joys of digging up the road.

Unfortunately for residents in one neighbourhood, the constant roadworks outside their homes are less than amusing.

In fact, the vibrations from the pneumatic drills are only matched by the grinding of teeth.

Residents claim the triangle contained within Milton Street, Harris Street and Cobden Street in Darlington, County Durham, has become the most dug-up patch anywhere around. And they have evidence to prove it.

Since June this year, maintenance work in one or more of the streets at various points has included: Sewer pipes being replaced on behalf of Northumbrian Water Work to install new high voltage underground electricity cable by Northern Electric arm NEDL Repairs to gas mains by Transco after works by another utility caused a trench to collapse Work by Darlington Borough Council to re-lay footpaths in the area as a result of the combined maintenance work.

One angry resident, who did not want to be named, said: "It is understandable that people are asking when will all this end.

"No sooner have they done the sewers than they start digging up the road again and doing the pavements.

"Nothing ever seems to be coordinated. They just can't make up their minds what they want to do."

The frustration caused by the roadworks has reached Darlington Borough Council leader John Williams, who has the misfortune to live in Milton Street.

He said: "It is very frustrating for local residents and frustrating for myself and my family.

"But as the old adage goes you cannot make an omlette without breaking eggs."

Karen Hindhaugh, of gas company Transco, said they had sympathy for residents, but had worked closely with Darlington Borough Council to keep any disruption to a minimum.

It was not to blame for the gas mains repairs which took two days to complete.

Northumbrian Water said it had been forced to replace Victorian sewers in the area which had flooded because of heavy rain.

Its spokeswoman Cara Hall said: "We are doing the best that we can. Our work commenced on July 2 and we have now replaced all the pipework required."

She said that a temporary asphalt surface would be reinstated in the affected streets by Friday, although it would be another two months before the surface was fully repaired.

NEDL said its work had already been completed and residents had been sent a courtesy letter.

Meanwhile, the man at Darlington Borough Council just seemed perplexed by it all.

Spokesman Steve Jones said: "We cannot coordinate everything. There is work we can legislate for and work we cannot.

"Quarterly meetings take place between ourselves and the utilities and streets get dug up, although in this case it is probably bad luck that everything is happening at the same time."

Can you lay claim to the most dug-up street in the North-East? If so, call The Northern Echo newsdesk on (01325) 505064 or 505068