THERE is traffic chaos for motorists in a Winchester suburb today as footpath improvements go ahead.

Temporary signals are in place in Weeke on the roundabout at Stoney Lane and Stockbridge Road.

Drivers are queuing back in both directions in Stockbridge Road, and some are stuck trying to leave Waitrose car park. Shoppers heading to Waitrose and Aldi are worsening the problem.

Catriona Soulsby, 60, retired, of Romsey Road, Winchester, said she was queuing for 15 minutes.

"We have tried to ease it by sitting and having a coffee," she said. "The people who make decisions in our local government, none of them are from Winchester."

Another motorist, who asked not to be named, said it had taken nearly 20 minutes to leave the car park.

The work started earlier this month and is expected to last five weeks.

Another driver, Gary Honey said: "This is ridiculous, the traffic is now blocking the whole road. The contractors don't seem to want to know."