Drivers stuck in Sainsbury's car park after road closure

Angry shoppers have been taking to Twitter to vent their frustrations, with some reporting to have been stuck attempting to get out the car park for 'nearly two hours' on Sunday afternoon.

The road is open this morning (Monday).

Avoid Sainsbury's hayford hill, it's too late for me, save yourselves #gridlock #roadclosure #fb

— Susie Holcroft (@littleshoesoose) August 19, 2018

It comes as roadworks on the A4074 closed the road and traffic backed up along the ring road, making it difficult for drivers to exit onto the roundabout from Sainsbury's.

Shopper Mike Benke said he was stuck in the car park for two hours.

He added: "The police were called and had to open up some of the lanes that had been shut by the roadworks.

"They also stopped people coming into Sainsbury’s."

@sainsburys can someone please save us from the Heyford Hill car park been stuck here over half an hour and no movement, food is deforesting and I’m fed up. Tried ringing the store and no answer! 😡😡😡

— Becca (@Rebecca_Roworth) August 19, 2018

Oxfordshire County councillor Roz Smith warned drivers to stay away from the area, and tweeted about police who had been called in to help alleviate the problem by diverting customers away from the shop.

Just heard, Much disruption, Sainsburys Heyford Hill shop has been closed as A4074 Road causes long delays - avoid area @BBCOxTravel @

— Roz Smith (@RosalindRogers) August 19, 2018

Other tweets report drivers were being turned away by Sainsbury's staff.

There were staff at the top of the roundabout trying to stop people from coming into the car park so the problem didn't get any worse, and when I was there staff on the front doors to let people know what was going on

— Sam Gibson (@sgibson_20) August 19, 2018

Sainsbury's replied to a few of its customers about the 'messy' situation via Twitter. 

Hi Eve. We understand that the situation is quite messy at the moment, especially when the Oxford council closed the main road just outside the store. Our colleagues are trying their very best to help. Drago

— Sainsbury's (@sainsburys) August 19, 2018

Sainsbury's spokeswoman Hayley Gregson said: "Our Heyford Hill store car park was temporarily closed for a very short time today due to access issues caused by the nearby road closure. 

"The car park is now open as normal."

She added although the car park was closed off temporarily, the shop continued trading and Thames Valley Police are now managing the traffic.

Oxfordshire County Council's website said the road has been closed in both directions to allow for resurfacing works.