Virgin Media have issued an apology to residents of Helensburgh’s Kennedy Drive after their contractors started works on the street without informing locals.

Residents woke up to find that work to install new broadband cables had suddenly started on their street on the morning of Monday, July 26 with no warning.

With the construction taking place on the pavement, locals found they had no way to get their cars out of their driveways.

Kennedy Drive resident Eleanor Mears said: “This morning we heard this noise outside our house and my husband looked out and whole of the drive is cut off.

“There’s barricades put across both sides of the drive, and we can’t get our cars out.

“We were not notified at all about this. What we needed was a note through the door and we could have got the cars out the drive and gone about our business as usual.”

When locals expressed their concerns the contractors, they were offered people wooden boards to temporarily lie across the works so they could manoeuvre their vehicles onto the street.

When contacted for comment, Virgin Media stated the lack of notification should have been carried out by the contractor and that staff will directly engage with and apologise to residents.

They also confirmed that the works would be complete within seven days despite concerns from residents that it could take several weeks.

A Virgin Media spokesperson said: “We apologise to residents in Kennedy Drive who didn’t receive letters in advance of our works beginning.

“This should have been done by our contractor, and we have been in touch with them to remind them of the importance of giving residents advanced notice before any works take place.

“We are sending a member of staff to the street today to speak with residents about the works, listen to any concerns and apologise personally for any inconvenience caused.

“Once our works are completed, residential and business customers in the area will be able to benefit from our fastest broadband services.”