A RUSH of shoppers to the Westgate Shopping Centre has caused traffic to queue down Abingdon Road in Oxford.

According to traffic reports, the centre’s car park has become full and has caused tailbacks from Thames Street all the way to Kennington Roundabout.

Drivers have been advised to use park-and-ride services instead of travelling into the city in their own cars.

John Tanner, city council executive board member for Cleaner Greener Oxford, said: "Christmas is always crazy here because of people doing last minute shopping and trying to get home in their cars.

"There has been horrible chaos today and I hope more people tomorrow will leave their cars at home and get the bus, cycle or walk.

"But I wish everyone a merry Christmas and good luck with their shopping."

Driver Stephen Shepherd, 64, of Wantage Road in Wallingford, said: "I came from Wallingford earlier today and now they have sorted Kennington Roundabout out it was pretty easy.

"But later on at about 4pm when we left Oxford and tried to get back in, it was an absolute nightmare.

"There were massive queues and it took us about 30 minutes to get to the Westgate from Kennington."

A member of staff at Westgate, who did not wish to be named, added: "It has been terrible today. People tend to panic when it gets this close to Christmas and so we got really busy earlier.

"The traffic was mainly caused by lots of people trying to get in and out of the car park at the same time.

"I think many had tried to come shopping while their kids were in school. There's not a lot we can do to help on the ground about the traffic, it is probably like this everywhere."

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