ROADWORKS which brought Oxford to a standstill yesterday ‘could not have been carried out during half term’ the firm responsible has said.

Thames Water set up temporary traffic lights at the junction of Western Road and Abingdon Road, Oxford, on Monday evening for sewer repair work.

The roadworks caused bedlam for motorists in time for yesterday’s morning rush hour, with queues reported across the city and some as far back as Abingdon.

The repair work, the water giant told Oxford Mail yesterday, had to be completed this week after many schools had already returned back from the one-week holiday because the work is ‘emergency work, rather than pre-planned.’

Spokeswoman Becky Trotman said: “Thames Water is carrying out urgent maintenance on a sewer pipe.

“The traffic lights will be marshalled at peak times to ease traffic flow and the work is expected to take around one week.”

Motorists are being warned to avoid the route if possible until the works are finished and to plan their journeys ahead to avoid disruption.

Yesterday, most routes to and from they city were hit by the traffic chaos, including Donnington Bridge which was at a standstill during the early morning rush hour and the A34 which saw northbound queues from South Hinksey all the way back to Abingdon.

Botley Road was also hit by lengthy delays throughout the morning.

Commuters took to social media to vent their frustration.

Lewy Symm on Twitter said: “You couldn’t pay me to live in Oxford.

“Traffic everywhere non-stop, absolute joke.”

Charlotte Jacquest said: “I hate Oxford this morning, they never pick the right time to do roadworks.”

An Oxford Mail reader calling themselves ‘icba1957’ said: “Every day it’s something different. This city is very slowly grinding to a halt.”

The road works are expected to be completed by March 3.