Commuters frustrated by delays on Oxford's Green Road roundabout have been told congestion will not be alleviated by night time roadworks.

Motorists stuck in traffic jams caused by work on Headington roads will have to continue to queue up as the county council carries out work during the day.

The council says doing the work at night is not an option because of the noise pollution.

David Robertson, cabinet member for transport, said: "The problem is the noise for surrounding neighbourhoods makes night work out of the question.

"There are a considerable number of houses and schools in the area and we have already spoken to residents concerned about noise. Noise does not hover over one place, it travels.

"It is not a matter of cost. Obviously we spend money as wisely and sensibly as possible and we want to get the best value for money and some work is scheduled to be carried out at night. We will be doing some of the resurfacing towards the end of the project at night as this will have a minimal impact."

The works are carried out on weekdays and on Saturdays until 4pm. Mr Robertson said work would not be done on a Sunday because it was a "day of rest."

A new road through the centre of the roundabout will be created to link both sides of the A40 which, once finished in December, should ease congestion at the busy roundabout.

On Wednesday the Oxford Mail reported the works, which started on Tuesday, have already caused chaos and are affecting trade at McDonalds and delaying funerals at the Oxford Crematorium.

Residents of Wheatley, Garsington and Horspath also complained of hundreds more drivers rat-running through their villages.

But Mr Robertson said the county council was listening to people's comments.

He said: "We hear everything people are saying. This was always going to be a difficult time but we have to work to make the situation better for the long term.

"We are monitoring the situation very closely on a daily basis. I have personally driven through the site on a number of occasions to get the feel of how people are being affected.

"In terms of affected businesses, again we hear what is being said and there will soon be signs in appropriate places that make it abundantly clear that business are operating as normal along with instructions on how to get to them.

"This is one of those situations in which no matter what we do there will be people who have legitimate observations or complaints."

Phil Ashworth, from the Oxford Bus Company, said they were monitoring the situation minute by minute and, if delays were particularly bad, buses would be diverted.