ROADWORKS were today causing severe traffic disruption on a major Winchester junction.

Contractors have closed the road at the top of Stanmore Lane at the junctions with Oliver's Battery Road North and Romsey Road.

It is part of the work to improve the traffic lights and road layout at the notorious bottleneck.

The disruption from resurfacing work today angered local residents. Guy Cameron, of Fairfax Close, was effectively trapped in his own road.

He said: “There is only one word to describe this: chaos. I think it is hysterical. People in the Oliver's Battery Road North cul-de-sac are effectively confined to barracks.”

St Peter's Roman Catholic Primary School is on Oliver's Battery Road North.

A spokeswoman said this afternoon that the contractors had given the school plenty of notice and parents had been told not to attempt to drive to the school.

She said: “It is not ideal. But these roadworks have to be carried out and they will make access so much easier.

"In the past access has not been great and so this will simplify life.

“All parents were told two weeks ago about the work and the limited access.”

The roadworks were due to be lifted at 5pm today.