HUGE lorries queueing up to enter an industrial site in a Hampshire town are causing traffic chaos on neighbouring roads.

Problems in the container industry are resulting in vehicles lining up on the A35 Totton Bypass and a narrow street which leads to Eling Wharf.

Residents have spent years complaining about lorry activity in the area but the problem is said to have grown worse in the past two weeks.

On Monday a long queue of HGVs formed on the bypass, forcing all other vehicles to switch to the outside lane.

Daily Echo:

People living and working in an adjoining road were confronted by the sight of stationary lorries waiting to enter the wharf, a 41-acre site used as an overspill area for containers.

One of the truckers caught up in the chaos complained he was stuck in traffic for more than two hours.

People have taken to Facebook to highlight the issue, saying that on at least one occasion the lorries stretched as far west as the Rushington roundabout. One social media user commented: "What a nightmare."

Vehicles queued up on the bypass before turning into Totton High Street, a mixture of homes and light industrial units.

Dave Stride, manager of the Union Cars garage, said: "We found it very difficult to get in and out because lorries waiting to enter the works blocked the whole road from noon until 4pm.

"It's happened three times so far - twice this week and once last week."

Daily Echo:

Another businessman based in the area added: "Lorries were backed up all the way from the wharf to the top end of the High Street and along the bypass as far as the Rushington roundabout. It must have gone on for a good couple of hours.

"I don't know what caused it but I can probably guarantee it will happen again."

The recent spell of exceptionally bad weather is said to have caused ships to be delayed, resulting in an excessive accumulation of containers in Southampton docks.

One of the posts on social media says container firms are having to make more use of alternative storage facilities.

An Eling Wharf employee added: "It's the sheer volume of traffic, which we can't do anything about. Unfortunately Totton High Street is the only way in and out."

Two years ago the wharf was bought by Associated British Ports (ABP), in a £14m deal which signalled the end of long-running plans to transform the site by building homes and shops.

ABP did not respond to a request for comment.