Highways chiefs have pulled contractors out of Mitcheldean after a spate of road rage rows which ended with a workman being 'run over'.

The man needed hospital treatment after trying to stop a motorist driving through roadworks in the village.

Highways chiefs say it was the latest attack by drivers who refused to accept that they had to make long detours while resurfacing work was carried out.

Other workman have complained about verbal abuse and one was allegedly punched in the face by an irate motorist.

Now Gloucestershire County Council have pulled the contractors out and villagers say the workmen have told them they will not return without police protection.

Trouble flared about a fortnight ago when the gang arrived to resurface the road through the middle of the village.

Residents and commuters were forced to go miles out of their way because of the closure of a section of one of the busiest routes in and out the Forest.

The last straw came last Thursday when contractors arrived to finish the job.

Villagers say they downed tools and refused to do any more after their colleague was injured.

A council spokesman confirmed that a man had needed hospital treatment after being run over.

Highways manager Jenny Wilks: "A small but significant number of drivers were continuing to drive through the roadworks with no regard for workforce safety.

"We pulled the workforce out of Mitcheldean after a couple of serious incidents within the road closure which compromised safety to such an extent it was no longer safe to continue.

"The road is open, but the works are incomplete and we now need to review the situation to see when we can go back in and finish the job.

"The road closure was to enable us to do as much work as quickly as possible and in safety in Mitcheldean, but unfortunately a number of inconsiderate drivers have stopped us from doing that."