DRIVERS are being urged to ignore sat nav instructions after a series of accidents on a country road.

The closure of the B6371 road into Cockenzie and Port Seton from the A1 has seen drivers heading down a narrow road as their sat navs send them away from the official diversion route.

But it has led to reports of a number of accidents on the road, with a serious collision yesterday (Wednesday) leading to emergency services being called.

Residents are now calling on East Lothian Council to put up temporary traffic lights on the unofficial route to avoid any further accidents after the local authority revealed the main route closure had been extended.

However, East Lothian Council has issued an appeal to motorists to follow the official diversion signs.

A council spokesperson said: “The diversion is the safest route taking into account traffic volumes, flow and road speeds, and we would encourage all drivers to use it, instead of a sat nav system or their own local knowledge.”

The Coal Road, which leads into Cockenzie and Port Seton from the A1, has been closed to allow the Coal Authority to carry out work on an area of subsidence on its carriageway.

READ MORE: Major route into Port Seton closed

A diversion is in place taking traffic through neighbouring Prestonpans.

But a quicker route into Port Seton is offered further east by taking Fishergate Road – but its twists and turns have led to a number of collisions.

Yesterday, ambulance teams were called shortly after 1pm after two cars collided near the route’s junction with Seton Farm Shop.

Police said they were called to the scene and the road was temporarily closed as debris from the badly damaged vehicles was cleared from the road and recovery vehicles brought in.

A spokesperson said that no one had required hospital treatment following the incident.

Local residents said that the accident was the latest in a number of collisions and near-misses on the road since the diversion was introduced less than a fortnight ago.

One said: “It is frightening the speed people are taking on that road, especially when they do not know it. Temporary traffic lights should be brought in before someone is seriously hurt.”

Another added: “Some of the drivers are driving far too fast round the bends and a lot are unaware of the narrow bridge section until it is too late.”

And one person questioned the length of time of the closure, which has now been extended, saying: “How long does it take to fill a hole in a road?”

A council spokesperson said that the Coal Road would remain closed until next month.

They said: “The Coal Authority has advised that remedial works to tackle subsidence on the B6371 Coal Plant Road won’t be completed until early November.

“The traffic order has been extended until November and the signed diversion route will remain in place until this time.”