BUS passengers and motorists have spoken of their frustration after Hull city centre became grid-locked.

Thousands of people were stuck in traffic for hours after a combination of problems brought the city to a standstill yesterday afternoon.

Drivers reported journeys that would normally take a matter of minutes lasting hours as they were stuck in ever increasing queues.

The problems were caused by a number of factors including:

A car transporter breaking down in Castle Street, blocking the road into Hull from about 2.30pm.

Traffic lights failing at the junction of Freetown Way and George Street.

Drivers trying to avoid the A63 – leading to severe congestion on Hessle Road and Anlaby Road.

Traffic backing up onto surrounding routes, snarling-up Beverley Road, Spring Bank and Freetown Way.

A second lorry breaking down on the A63 westbound, near Priory Way, at about 6.30pm.

Suzanne Moore, who works at Reckitt Benckiser in east Hull, was stuck on a bus for more than an hour.

She said: "My journey to Hessle usually takes about 30 minutes, but the traffic was barely moving.

"It was worse when we hit the city centre. We were stuck at the lights at Carr Lane and Anlaby Road for about 20 minutes.

"It took about five attempts to get through and all you could see was stationary traffic."

Taxi firms said they were flooded by irate customers as people were forced to wait up to an hour for a taxi.

Mike Adamson, managing director of 57 Taxis and chairman of the Private Hire Proprietors' Association, said: "It brought the complete fleet to a standstill. I had 80 cars out and most of them were stuck in it.

"It is diabolical – absolutely terrible.

"We have had irate customers on the phone."