Thirsk was plunged into traffic chaos this week as double roadworks ground motorists to a halt.

Rush hour traffic was gridlocked on four main roads due to two sets of temporary lights. Three-way traffic lights at Town End roundabout caused cars to back up on Topcliffe Road, the Market Place and Sowerby Road while a further set on Station Road led to massive tailbacks at its junction with Newsham Road.

Drivers coming through the town centre faced long delays on journeys that usually take no more than five minutes. Motorist Mr John Lawson, 21, of Hambleton, Thirsk, said: "It's been a nightmare.

"On Monday it took me 40 minutes to get from my house to the Market Place."

Both sets of lights will operate until the first week in August. But signals at the roundabout will only be deployed for set periods and those by the racecourse will be suspended on race days.

The Station Road works are in place while Yorkshire Water carries out a £250,000 overhaul of a 540m stretch of the sewer system to reduce foul smells.

But the big headache to drivers this week was the three-way set at Town End roundabout. They are in use due to alterations taking place at the former Q8 filling station that is being transformed into a 24-hour garage by Tesco's.

North Yorkshire County Council is responsible for co-ordinating road works to avoid double jams. The divisional engineer for Thirsk is Mr Mike Roberts. He said: "Yorkshire Water are working their way from the racecourse to Carlton Miniott. Both wanted to be in there at the same time but we delayed the Tesco one until Yorkshire Water got far enough away so the signals didn't conflict.

"Both sets of contractors have walkie-talkies so they can communicate and the lights are linked so they don't back up into each other.

"We are completely unaware of them backing into one another and we have a commitment from Tesco's that they would actually shut down if that situation arises. If it was going to be a continuous problem they would shut down."