Queues of cars outside the new Tesco store in Newtown.

Increased traffic chaos in Newtown has been blamed on Tesco opening its superstore before “vital signal work” on the testing or synchronising of a new set of traffic lights was finished.

The lights on Pool Road have been causing chaos in the town ever since they were switched on on Saturday.

Powys County Council today claimed the store opened on Monday before finishing “vital signal work”.

It said the traffic problems had been triggered because Tesco failed to fully test or synchronise the traffic lights in Pool Road.

However Tesco today denied the claims and said it had tested the lights before opening.

Tony Fletcher, for Tesco, said: “We did all we could with the lights before we opened. Like all things, until they are switched on and operational we don’t know how they are going to work.

“We are sorry for any delays caused and are working with the local authority to rectify the problem.”

But Wynne Jones, council board member for planning, disputed what Tesco said and claimed the company failed to test the traffic lights at the entrance to the store before opening.

He said: “Regrettably the company took the decision to open the store before the traffic lights were fully synchronised and operational.”

He said the decision was exacerbated by increased traffic to the new store.

“We have been told that it may take some time before the new signals are operating at their optimum capacity and the overall situation improves,” he added.