SHOPPERS have been left queuing for up to three hours to get out of Tesco car park in Southampton Road this afternoon. Southampton Road and Bourne Way have been gridlocked for most of the afternoon and there were similar problems reported yesterday.

It is thought the traffic chaos is down to road works along Southampton Road. “It’s a joke,” said motorist Claire Ferguson on facebook. “Something needs to be done.” Sandy Ince added: “No one will want to buy frozen food.”

And another shopper, Sarah Varney, said after waiting for two hours she left her car there, planning to go back and pick it up later. Tricia Redshaw added that it was a “total nightmare” today and that when she left the store, Tesco car park had been closed to oncoming traffic. “I don’t know if they were being advised to use Staples car park or turn around,” she said.