HUNDREDS of motorists were forced to endure gridlock on and off the Sandbanks ferry on Sunday - with some reporting a three hour wait to clear the traffic.

Ashley Cross resident Richard Green, who was driving home along Panorama Road, said: "It was just absolute bedlam. There was no way in, no way out. It was crammed solid.

"The ferry came over from Studland and only half of the cars managed to get off."

Traffic was backed up from the roundabout at Banks Road, where thousands of holiday-makers were leaving the beach at Sandbanks.

There were also two-mile tailbacks reported on Ferry Road at the Studland side of the ferry crossing.

Mr Green says he started back towards Poole from Sandbanks at 4.50pm, and it took him until past 7pm to get clear of Banks Road.

Another driver told the Echo: "Bearing in mind we had to queue the Studland side to get on the ferry, it easily put three hours on our journey."

Borough of Poole transport head Julian McLaughlin, said: "When the weather is good the roads near to the beaches always suffer from significant congestion as people seek out a parking space.

"No other causes for the delay were reported to our network management team for Sunday."