Manchester city centre drivers have faced traffic chaos this morning after workmen on the Regent Road roadworks dumped diggers in a protest at 'not being paid'.

Eyewitnesses said the construction workers left four large diggers and a truck in the middle of the road.

It later emerged the vehicles were from Total Plant Hire Ltd which has been supplying machinery for the scheme.

Boss Tommy Halligan confirmed to the M.E.N he had told staff to down tools and walk off site claiming he is owed around £300,000 from the main contractor Dawnus.

Another contractor who supplies labour claims he is owed a similar amount.

Dawnus has not replied to repeated requests for comment from the M.E.N.

A spokeswoman for TfGM: "We are aware of the situation. It is Manchester City Council who are involved with the management of it all.

"Our position is making sure we get travel advice out there.

"We are advising people to check our social media channels and making sure the public are aware."

A woman, who didn't want to be named, said she spoke to construction workers this morning: "The workers said they have not been paid. They have downed tools and left.

"They blocked the road with diggers. We noticed as there was no traffic coming down the road.

"Who is going to finish all this work? This is going to put it back a while."

The eyewitness said the equipment has since been moved from the road.

She added: "They were told police were on their way and have now moved the diggers to the site of the Old Wellington pub."

Bus operator Stagecoach tweeted about the disruption, saying it was due to a 'protest'.

They tweeted: "We are experiencing delays averaging 40 minutes on the routes, this is due to current protests on Regent Road and Chester Road, we apologise for the delays and the inconvenience this has caused."