BUS passengers are fed up with a cardboard replacement bus stop which is so difficult to recognise even bus drivers are passing it by.

Essex County Council contractors have dug up the area around the bus stop in Long Road, Canvey, for gas mains repairs, and have put up a cardboard and felt-tip pen sign to indicate the temporary pick-up spot nearby.

Christine Andrews, 63, of Haarlem Road, Canvey, said buses had often failed to stop since the sign went up about two weeks ago.

She added: "I think it's confusing for the drivers because they can't really see the cardboard for all the maintenance work."

Canvey town councillor Doreen Andrews said the makeshift stop was "a joke".

She said: "It's a big lump of cardboard with biro on it."

Dave Blackwell, leader of the Canvey Independent Party, added: "It would be funny if it wasn't for the fact elderly people and mums with pushchairs have been left stranded in the cold as buses sailed past.

"I've been inundated with calls from residents. Essex County Council needs to put a proper temporary bus stop in place."

Norman Hume, county councillor responsible for highways and transportation, said: "Often with maintenance works of this type, temporary measures have to be put in place. We apologise for any inconvenience."

Stuart Render, spokesman for the First bus company, said: "There is a temporary stop, but it is not always easy for our buses to pull in because the council has cordoned off the area nearby. We have issued instructions to our drivers to be observant."