MOTORISTS were left fuming after one small set of traffic lights brought rush hour traffic to a standstill.

Roadworks at the bottom of Marlow High Street forced traffic lights to be switched on creating a one-way flow at the double roundabout on Tuesday night. At one stage cars were queuing up the High Street, down the Little Marlow Road, onto the Marlow by-pass and down towards the Bisham roundabout.

Massive queues also stretched out past Marlow Bridge into Bisham and towards Cookham.

This is the beginning of many months of works in central Marlow and at some stages Marlow Bridge will be closed to traffic.

Transco and BT are currently working in Station Road and will be around until the end of November. Come the new year Transco will return to Chapel Street and then Oxford Street. Making matters worse, Buckinghamshire County Council is scheduled to carry out vital repairs to Marlow Bridge in January.

The council says it has done its very best to co-ordinate works but it has no statutory rights to control when companies carry out their work.

David Allworth, public utilities technician for the council, said: "The work in Station Road must be connected to the gas main at the end of Pound Lane and also two mains which run along the High Street. Transco are also having to keep customers supplied with gas while the works are going on.

"All things being equal the traffic problems should ease ease up considerably by early next week."