Traders, schools and services in West Hampstead are furious after a busy strip off Finchley Road was dug up for re-surfacing for the second time in two months.

West End Lane between Finchley Road and West End Green and Honeybourne Road and Crediton Hill were closed last Thursday.

It caused traffic mayhem, loss of business and put animals at risk by cutting off a vet’s surgery.

Tara Goddard, the receptionist at Well Animal Clinic, West End Lane, said: “If there had been an emergency they wouldn’t have been able to get through.”

Restauranteur Arif Osman, of Number 324, West End Lane, said: “It’s a waste of time and money and they should have done it properly the first time. They tell us they have no money but then they do things twice.”

A Camden Council spokesman said the works were done to minimise disruption in the long-term.

“When our contractors began resurfacing in 2011 it became apparent that the surface material, although safe to use, was not up to a standard the council would accept and that it would need to be replaced.”

“The poor condition was caused by a faulty batch of road surfacing material, and these remedial works were carried out free of charge by our contractors at no cost to Camden.”