'Temporary' roadworks have been in place for so long pranksters have dressed them with birthday decorations - for the second year.

A section of Strines Road, near Strines, on the border with Stockport, has been barriered off and controlled by traffic lights since February 2013.

Cheshire East Council has yet to fix the subsidence problem and anonymous protesters made their point by covering the works with birthday banners and balloons.

The same treatment was given 12 months ago and last year a sign went up complaining the roadworks had cost council tax payers a five-figure sum.

Chris Collins, 38, said: "I have never known a set of roadworks to last so long, it's a real pain. I use the road every day to go to work and back and very rarely see anyone there doing anything.

"It's quite funny that someone has decorated them but how many more 'birthdays' are they going to have? At this rate we'll have to have a big party when they turn 18 in 2031.

"On a serious note it can be quite dangerous as people get frustrated after all this time and will go through on red rather than wait."

The roadworks are in a 'no-man's land' area where 200metres of busy Strines Road leaves the borough of Stockport and briefly passes through Cheshire East before entering High Peak, Derbyshire.

At times over the past two years the area cordoned off has lengthened before shrinking again.

And the traffic lights have jammed on red.

In the past Cheshire East Council has said the lengthy appearance of the roadworks is down to awaiting the outcome of a desk study and trying to secure a license to carry out investigations on nearby private land.

At one time according to the council's website roadwork map estimated completion date was December 2013.

The council was asked for a comment on why there was seemingly still little progress but did not provide one.