A WEEK-long scheme to change the colour of Cinderford High Street has left motorists and residents alike baffled.

As part of the Gloucestershire County Council's programme of "routine resurfacing work", highways workmen have closed the road and started replacing the former standard black tarmac with red in a bid to highlight the town's 20mph speed limit.

The road will be closed until Thursday (March 13) from 7.30am to 5.30pm with an additional day on Sunday (March 16) between 8am and 6pm.

A spokesman for Gloucestershire County Council said: "A different coloured surface will be laid to identify the town centre area which has a 20mph limit."

One Cinderford resident told the Review: "I can't understand why on earth highways have taken the tarmac up for resurfacing just to change the colour. They only resurfaced the road two and half years ago and, in comparison to other Forest roads, the high street is in good condition. It's a waste of money and time and it is causing a lot of upheaval."