THOUSANDS of motor-ists face rush-hour chaos in Southampton over the next two and a half months, it emerged today.

Rail passengers have also been dealt a travelling blow with revelations that 30 trains a day are to be scrapped between the port city and the seaside resort of Bournemouth, Dorset.

Major roadworks are poised to bring traffic heading into Southampton from the west in Totton and the New Forest to a standstill for weeks on end.

Repair work starts a week on Monday when the city council carries out resurfacing and strengthening along the east-bound carriageway by the Redbridge flyover. The road is notoriously busy because it feeds into the M271 - a main route for UK hauliers loading up at the docks - and the A35 across the New Forest.

Motorists are being urged to seek alternative ways into work, and for city centre bosses to brace themselves for employees being late.

Meanwhile, thousands of train passengers in the south will have to make alternative arrangements after a national shake-up in services.

South Central - under orders from the Strategic Rail Authority - is to axe a number of direct services between Southampton and Bournemouth from spring.

For more on this story see page ten of tonight's Daily Echo