COUNTY Hall has apologised to motorists after "mistakenly" approving traffic management on the A35 - which led to lengthy delays during yesterday's morning rush hour.

Drivers in Purbeck suffered a double whammy as significant queues built up on both Poole-bound approaches to the busy Baker's Arms roundabout.

Planned temporary lights on Sandford Road, near Sandford St Martins CE VA first School, caused two-mile tailbacks towards Wareham, as ongoing Wessex Water works continued.

However, lengthy delays were also reported on the A35 Dorchester Road at Slepe, near Lytchett Minster, as British Telecom carried out cabling work.

Yesterday, a Dorset County Council spokesperson said: "We're sorry for the delays caused this morning on the A35 and the A351 due to two sets of planned roadworks.

"We take every care to co-ordinate the many works on our network to minimise disruption to drivers, but the impact of the changes to these works slipped our attention.

"We mistakenly approved a change to the traffic management on the A35 works which caused unnecessary disruption.

"As soon as we observed the congestion, we immediately asked BT to suspend their works and we will look to accommodate them at the next practical opportunity."