Motorists in Shrewsbury are facing traffic chaos on one of the town’s busiest gyratory systems, which has been branded a “nightmare”.

People have complained that the Castle Foregate gyratory, which connects Ditherington Road with the town centre loop and Ellesmere Road, has become even busier than usual lately.

Council officials today said an engineer would be inspecting the traffic signals for any faults.

A 34-year-old driver, who did not wish to be named, said it was becoming a nightmare to get through town.

He said: “I have noticed over the last couple of days all round the gyratory system has been backing up and blocked under the railway bridge.

“People have been driving into the yellow box junction in Chester Street and blocking it and it takes far longer to get through town.”

Shropshire Council officials have said they are looking to upgrade the junction in the long term and ideas include the possibility of two lanes at Chester Street. Money from the Shrewsbury Growth Point is available to fund proposals.

Councillor Roger Evans, who represents the area, said: “Obviously with the extra housing on Ellesmere Road, it’s not going to improve and people want more work done.

“In the short term, there are investigations going on for Berwick Road lights and in the long term, there are plans to do a lot of work in the area and that will start some time in the next year.”

Shropshire Council spokeswoman Jennifer Fullard said: “An officer has visited the site and has observed the traffic flows around the gyratory.

“We can identify no problems with the signals, however we will continue to monitor them. An engineer will also be inspecting the signals for faults.”