A roadworks fiasco has sparked an inquiry into how Bradford Council manages its contracts.

Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton has demanded an internal investigation after an initial six-week programme to install two roundabouts in Cottingley, near Bingley, has dragged on for more than half a year.

"It's absolutely ridiculous that it has taken this long and this shouldn't be allowed to happen again," she said. "The Council should be monitoring roadwork problems and if there is a delay for any reason people need to be informed and a solution found. People in Cottingley have had enough and they've had to put up with months of disruption."

The two mini roundabouts are being put in at the junction of Manor Road and Cottingley New Road in a bid to ease congestion.

Work began at the start of the six-week summer holidays and was due to be finished by September 2001.

"I'm as angry as everyone else as this junction is the only way in and out of Cottingley and it's a nightmare every day," said Coun Eaton.

"For months nothing was being done and we've had to put up with cones everywhere, traffic lights and unfinished surfaces which all contribute to the congestion - it's a fiasco.

"It seems it's not being done in a way that's appropriate and I can only apologise for the outrageous length of time it's taken so far."

Martyn Dalton, of Manor Farm Close, said he waits in his car for up to 20 minutes to pull out on Cottingley New Road from Manor Road every morning.

"It's crazy - the Bingley relief road will be finished before the roundabouts at this rate," said the 37-year-old.

"I now have to leave the house at 8am to start work in Bradford at 9am, I used to leave at 8.30am. There must be some method behind this madness but I'm at a loss to what it is."

Tony Roche, of the Cottingley Community Association, said the work was also causing problems for people from surrounding areas.

"It's always been a problem junction for the people of Cottingley but the roadworks are affecting drivers from further afield," he said.

The utility companies were called in to redirect underground pipes, all of which was finished several weeks ago.

A spokesman for Transco, the gas pipeline company, said: "We were asked to move some pipes, which we did a few weeks ago."

A Yorkshire Electricity spokesman said its work was also finished on schedule.

Today a Council spokesman gave a faint ray of hope to commuters.

"Unfortunately, there have been unexpected delays on the Cottingley New Road works due to separate works being carried out by Transco," he said.

"We now expect these works to be finished towards the end of April."