TRAFFIC chaos reigned in the Lansdowne area of Bournemouth yesterday as huge queues of arriving Bournemouth University students swamped surrounding streets.

Roads were reduced to a standstill and car parks became blocked solid after almost 900 students decided Monday was the perfect moving day ahead of next week's start of term.

University staff were clearly unprepared for the influx and around a dozen police officers were forced to direct traffic in a bid to clear the gridlock.

Normally students trickle back over the weekend and following week, but for some unknown reason they descended on Cranborne and Purbeck House en masse at the same time.

Parent Christine Minto, who was moving in her 19-year-old daughter, Stephanie, said: "It was mayhem really, but people were in good spirits. Once we'd driven close enough to walk to the buildings it took 45 minutes to queue into the foyer, then another 45 minutes to get to the front desk."

The mum, who had driven 100 miles from Surrey, added: "Once inside, I was astonished to see only one person handing out room keys but 10 people wearing university T-shirts and handing out doughnuts. I'll consider myself lucky if I get home by midnight."

Traffic backed up along St Paul's Road to Wessex Way, and cars approaching the Madeira Road roundabout in all directions faced long delays.

The closest some people got to the halls in St Paul's Place and Oxford Road was the Madeira Road car parks.

Parents were forced to grab any available space and stay with their cars while their offspring queued for room keys.

Peter Collinson, 51, from Birmingham, said: "This is silly really, especially as Bournemouth must be suffering with the party conference traffic.

"I've been waiting by the car for over an hour because I can't leave it as I'll be blocking other people in. Why they couldn't stagger the day for everyone, I cannot understand."

University spokesman Charles Elder said: "It is very regrettable and is not a nice impression for many students coming to Bournemouth for the first time.

"We cannot understand why so many students decided to arrive on the same day.

"I appreciate many parents have driven a long way and thank them for their patience and the consideration they have shown.

"I would also like to thank all our staff and the police, who have helped us greatly."