DRIVERS are being warned to expect long delays on Castle Lane East again this evening.

Yesterday hundreds of drivers were stuck in severe traffic jams due to temporary traffic lights at Barrack Road in Christchurch. 

Road closures at Stony Lane, the Avon Causeway and gas works at Christchurch High Street also added to the problems.

Some reported being stuck in the car park at Royal Bournemouth Hospital for hours as they waited to get on to the main route.

Bournemouth Council tweeted to warn motorists there could be long delays between Royal Bournemouth Hospital and the Iford roundabout during this evening's rush-hour.

Meanwhile, Dorset County Council have issued contradictory statements about when the Barrack Road temporary lights will be gone.

A statement from Southern Gas Networks earlier said the work was due to finish by the end of Thursday and the lights would be manned at peak periods.  "We'd like to apologise for any inconvenience which may be caused and thank motorists for their patience," a statement added.

Dorset County Council, which granted the company a licence for the work, said the lights should be removed before the Wednesday evening rush hour.

A hospital worker, who asked not to be named, said yesterday: “It’s absolutely disgraceful.

“It’s total disorganisation – I left work at 3pm thinking I would beat the fiasco and I’ve moved about two inches in 40 minutes.

“There’s no direction from anybody, there’s going to be an accident.

“There are patients here coming out that have had surgery and they’re sitting in their cars.”

Patient Nick Simpson said: "I've been in the hsopital to have my eyes lasered and I've been stuck in the bottom car park for about two hours."

Hospital worker Sara Padroni said: "I've been here for one hour 20 minutes and I'm at the same point I was before.

"In my opinion if someone switched off the traffic lights and they started to use common sense, the traffic would flow."