There are huge tailbacks in Workington town centre.

Works are taking place on the junction of Adams Road and Lakes Road and traffic lights are in place.

There are reports of motorists sitting in queues for more than an hour, around Morrisons, B&Q and Halfords.

Tracey Woolaghan, of Workington, had been stuck in the Pets At Home car park for over two hours.

"I only came for dog food - I wish I had never bothered," she said.

"There's people in the cars who need to collect their kids from school and can't get off the car park. Luckily I've got people to collect my kids.

"There are people who require medication for diabetes.

"It's horrific. Cars are bumper to bumper. All the way to the train station is blocked. It's been all afternoon."

Staff from Morrisons could be seen handing out bottles of water and sweets to those who were stranded, and had also contacted the police and the highways authority to enquire about the problem.

Another driver said: "It's absolute gridlock. It took half an hour to move 100 yards. I'll urge people to stay away."

A spokesman for Cumbria County Council said the authority was aware of the disruption being caused and that highways engineers were now on scene.