RESIDENTS have been assured bore hole drilling in Colchester will not cause disruption.

Colchester Council's commercial company, Amphora, is testing two sites off Mill Road, where hundreds of homes are set to be built.

Work starts on Monday and will last for about two weeks.

If pressure is high enough, the underground water source could be used to heat the homes.

Gerard Oxford, borough councillors for Highwoods, criticised Amphora for failing to warn residents of the work until yesterday, when letters were delivered.

He said: "I am apologising on behalf of the consultant who was supposed to notify us in advance as ward councillors so we could publish what’s happening and also leaflets was supposed to be delivered to residents.

"We delayed our newsletter to accommodate this but weren’t notified.

"The first we knew of it was when residents blew up because the drilling equipment turned up metres from their homes without notice.

"All we can do is apologise on behalf of those who haven’t done their jobs as agreed."

A council spokesman said there should be no road closures or traffic disruption, work will be carried out between 8am and 6pm and noise will be kept to a maximum 65dbps, "not much more than a bus going past".