Mystery surrounds why Helston's controversial traffic trial has been ended more than two weeks early.

Road blocks remained in place on the Penzance Road first thing this morning, but by this afternoon they had gone.

It is not clear why the trial has ended 16 days early, having been due to run until July 26.

The Packet contacted Cornwall Council for a statement earlier today but has yet to receive a response.

The trial began on June 24 and had been expected to run for six weeks.

Run by Cormac, on behalf of Cornwall Council, it was designed to see whether the volume of traffic would reduce along Cross Street and where it would be relocated to, if cars were prevented in fully using the junction between Penzance Road and Penhallez Hill.

For the last month vehicles have not been allowed to turn right onto Penzance Road, when approaching over St John's Bridge.

At the same time, cars travelling down Sithney Common Hill from the Penzance direction towards Helston have been stopped from turning left onto St John’s Bridge, with road blocks put up.

Covert monitoring has been carried out by the council, with some motorists spotted flouting the ban and simply driving around the barriers.