WORKMAN resurfacing the county's roads have started wearing body-worn cameras because of the level of intimidation and abuse they are facing from motorists.

East Sussex Highways has announced that workers directing traffic around roadworks have started wearing the miniature cameras after a series of road rage incidents.

The council said only gateman working on resurfacing projects will be issued with cameras but the scheme could be widened out if judged a success.

Council officials said the abuse by an "inconsiderate minority" was "unacceptable.

Staff working on the A22 Hailsham bypass and carrying out grass cutting work in Uckfield have both been subject to verbal abuse in recent weeks which has led to the cameras being introduced.

Eight body-worn cameras purchased at an average cost of around £100 each are being used by roadside workers.

A similar scheme was trialled at the county council by its previous highways contractor Kier a few years earlier following a series of incidents which included physical assaults on staff members.

These included a staff member being punched and another incident where a car was driven at a work gang which led to offenders being convicted of assault and dangerous driving.

A seven-year, £300 million joint venture with Costain CH2M for maintaining roads, pavements, drainage and street lights was agreed in December.

An East Sussex Highways spokesman said: “We are currently trialling their use in response to recent incidents, since the transfer to the new highways contractor in May, of verbal threats made by members of the public to our staff, including a gang working on the A22 Hailsham bypass and grass cutters working in Westfield.

“Currently, body-worn cameras are being used by gatemen on our resurfacing schemes, who all too often bear the brunt of the actions of irresponsible motorists, but we will monitor the situation and if they prove to be a good deterrent may consider widening the scheme to include more of our employees.

“Our staff work hard in all weathers to keep the county’s roads in a good condition and it’s unacceptable that they should be made to feel threatened as a result of the actions of an inconsiderate minority.”