NEARLY 1,500 motorists have signed a petition calling for tolls to be suspended on the Itchen Bridge while roadworks on Northam Bridge continue.

It comes as drivers have endured a week of traffic chaos as work on the Northam Bridge started on Monday.

Delays of up to an hour have been reported by frustrated motorists who have been stuck in traffic as far back as Six Dials as they tried to leave the city.

Now a petition has been launched on protest website change.org calling for Southampton City Council to suspend the tolls for the 20-week period of the work on the Northam Bridge - so far it has been signed by 1,457 motorists.

While the traffic chaos on Monday will also be the centre of an inquiry as Cllr Jeremy Moulton, deputy leader of the city council's Conservative opposition, has called in the matter for a scrutiny committee hearing.

He suggested that contractors could work longer hours to get the work done quicker.

Southampton City Council says that the works, funded through Government cash, are vital to repair and maintain one of the main routes into the city centre.