DRIVERS were stuck in traffic jams stretching for miles at the weekend as work was carried out at Handy Cross roundabout.

The four-lane roundabout in Cressex was scheduled to be reduced to just one lane from 6pm Friday to 6am Monday.

Diversion signs were placed on approaching roads from Wycombe, directing shoppers to Cressex business park, and drivers were advised to leave extra time for their journeys.

Paul Taylor, assistant general manager at TGI Friday's in Crest Road, left three hours early to get to work on time at the weekend. His journey from Aylesbury normally takes half an hour. He said: "It was a nightmare. Staff have been late and running out of petrol. Everyone who came here was just stuck in traffic for hours on end and everyone was miserable.

"We didn't know which roundabout exit was going to be open and we couldn't tell customers how to get home. We probably lost about 30, 40 per cent of our sales."

The restaurant tried to claim for compensation from the Highways Agency but were refused.

Wanderers fans got caught up in the tailbacks as they tried to make their way to Adams Park for the first home game of the season against Wrexham.

Alan Hutchinson, Wanderers' press officer, said attendance was definitely affected by the hold-ups. He added: "If you were trying to get here for the start of the match you wouldn't have had a chance.

"I am sure people would have got the top of the roundabout and just turned round. I know three people who did that, but how many more? We have three more matches that could be affected."

And more delays are expected as the roundabout will be reduced to one lane over the next five weekends.

Martin Dellar, Highways Agency spokesman, said: "All we can say is please be patient while the works are being carried out and allow some extra time for your journey. We were expecting some delays, obviously, with the nature of the work. It's a major scheme."