UP to 200 people have been left queuing in the sun for more than 50 minutes at a Swanage bus stop while a bus sat empty in front of them.

The queue at Swanage station built up over almost an hour this afternoon. Around 4pm a bus had arrived – but its driver quickly disappeared according to frustrated passengers waiting to get home to Bournemouth.

Graham Exon told the Echo they had contacted Wilts and Dorset customer service only to be told they had a shortage of drivers and they were unable to tell them when one might arrive to take them home.

“There are a lot of elderly people here in the full sun and it’s not going to be long before people start keeling over,” he added. “I think everyone is very tired and rather annoyed and starting to get a bit fractious.”

Morebus tweeted shortly before 5pm to say: "Due to extreme traffic, we are seeing extreme delays on the 50 services. We apologise and will run ASAP."

They explained the heavy traffic had forced drivers to go over their legal driving time, and they had to find replacement drivers.


A representative from Wilts and Dorset arrived and spoke to passengers shortly before 5pm and a bus arrived moment later.

There are also lengthy delays on the X3, X6, and 38 services due to heavy traffic in and around Bournemouth.

Traffic on the Spur Road leaving Bournemouth is said to be very heavy towards Blackwater junction due to a fire on the grass verge on the inside lane.

Fire crews are currently at the scene.

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Control said they had received numerous calls about the fire, which has led to the closure of one lane near the Holdenhurst Sewage Treatment Works.

It took one motorist nearly an hour to get from Richmond Hill to Ashley Heath Roundabout. 

Traffic is also heavy on the A338 southbound, and there are two breakdowns exacerbating traffic on the A31 at Ringwood.

The town's beaches have been packed full of people enjoying the warm weather this afternoon.

As a result, traffic is also queuing both ways on the B3066 Bath Road between West Cliff Road and Lansdowne Road.

And there are long queues on Shore Road approaching Sandbanks Ferry.