ROADS around Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch were gridlocked after roadworks and two crashes caused mayhem on Tuesday.

Journey times were doubled as motorists were brought to a standstill following the two collisions, which exacerbated existing delays caused by work on the A338, A347 New Road and Wick Lane in Christchurch.

The first incident, on the A350 in Poole, took place outside Poole fire station around 5.12am.

The crash partially closed the eastbound carriageway, with a driver taken to Poole Hospital with neck injuries.

The road reopened at 7.50am, but traffic queues were already stretching back to the Bakers Arms roundabout, adding an hour onto rush-hour journeys.

A second incident on Christchurch Road, near to Parley Cross, led to a male motorcyclist being taken to hospital after a crash with a Vauxhall Corsa.

The incident, which happened around 6.40am, closed the road while officers dealt with the casualty, and a large fuel spillage.

Traffic was already slow, due to temporary traffic lights on New Road.

Work to install a gas main is taking place all week, with 24 hour lights, operated manually from 7am until 7pm.

The route is part of the main diversion from the A338 roadworks.

Both incidents led to major jams across the conurbation.

In Poole, one driver said it took 45 minutes to get from Corfe Mullen to Creekmoor - normally a 10 minute journey.

Roads around Broadstone were gridlocked while Upton was also at a standstill as many drivers tried to avoid the main A35 route.

Longham was also at a standstill, while Matchams Lane through to Hurn saw long queues, as drivers tried to avoid the A338.

Journey times on the route rose as traffic travelling from the A31 onto the Spur Road's southbound carriageway was queued back to Poulner.

MoreBus tweeted to say their services were delayed due to both incidents, with the temporary traffic lights on New Road also causing 15 minute delays throughout the day.

Christchurch, Tuckton and the Avon Causeway also saw longer delays as a result of the heavy traffic.