Schoolchildren have faced long walks to their GCSE and A-level exams after roadworks scheduled to last until the end of the month caused "total gridlock".

Your Local Guardian:

Three-way traffic lights, bus stop suspensions and temporary pedestrian crossings have been set up in Petersham Road, Petersham, while National Grid carries out essential gas works.

The changes effect the junctions with Star and Garter Hill and Cedar Heights, and the area of Petersham Nurseries, Dysart Arms and St Peter's Church.

The works, which began on Monday, June 8, have caused cars, lorries and buses to be stuck in traffic stretching as far back as Ham Common in off-peak times, with children forced to walk to school ahead of final exams during the morning rush hour.

Lulu O'Hagan said her 17-year-old daughter got on a bus at Ham Parade at about 7.15am on Tuesday morning and an hour later had only reached Sandpits Lane near the German School.

She said: "Should they [National Grid] not be working 24 hours a day to get this done? You only need to look on Google Maps to see the heavy red lines on all approaches.

"June is one of the most important months in academic year with A-levels, AS-levels, GCSEs and general end of year exams. Never a time for extreme roadworks and certainly more important than Ride London and Rugby World Cup, in my opinion at least."

Ms O'Hagan said the problem extended past the morning rush hour, with her husband spending 50 minutes to get through the roadworks at 6am.

People living in Petersham also feared stationary traffic outside their homes would exacerbate pollution levels and have a detrimental effect on the area.

Jim Andrews, of Petersham Road, said: "I have never seen anything like it. It is causing total gridlock even into the park. It's causing pollution, kids cant get to school on time and people are tearing their hair out.

"For the next 22 days, people who are trying to get from Kingston to Richmond are going to be so severely penalised."

A Richmond Council spokesman said because Petersham Road was a key link in the road network, any works were known to cause significant traffic disruption despite advance warning.

The spokesman added: "Following discussion with local businesses the works are being undertaken now and in advance of the Ride London event in August and the subsequent Rugby World Cup.

"National Grid will be working extended hours to minimise the duration of the works."

A National Grid spokesman said: "All work is carefully planned with the local authorities and is designed to be delivered with minimal disruption.

"Hence the plans for weekend working and extended hours to try and deliver the work as promptly as possible also wherever possible they insert the new mains into the old mains which reduces the need for large scale excavations thereby minimising traffic disruption."