Queues of traffic leaving Newtown gridlocked is “killing off” the town and preventing major manufacturers from coming to the area, it was claimed today.

Residents’ lives are being ruined as the massive queues of vehicles are leaving them stuck in their homes, according to town councillor Joy Jones.

She said the traffic was hitting residents, businesses and holidaymakers.

Queues of up to five miles coming into Newtown in both directions “infuriated” motorists across the bank holiday weekend as traffic went to and from the Welsh coast.

Residents and campaigners said the state of the traffic in the town was “dreadful” on a day-to-day basis, but over the bank holiday weekend they say the problem has been made even worse.

Traffic built up along the A483 in Pool Road and out towards Abermule, while the number of vehicles in the town centre has been getting gradually worse as local traffic is hit by the increased visitor traffic, a campaigner said today.

The problem stems from the traffic lights installed in Pool Road. Councillor Jones said: “It is killing off the town. No manufacturers will come here as they will never get their lorries through, which means the area is missing out on jobs.

“It is ruining the lives of people who live here as they can’t get out of their homes – you cannot get out to do any shopping and it is costing everyone so much money in petrol sitting in traffic. People who work in the town get stuck in it and the holidaymakers can’t enjoy it either.”

Philip Glynn, of the 21st Century Newtown Action Group, said that he was “furious” with the mayhem each day which had been caused in the town.

Mr Glynn said he has now written to the Welsh Assembly in a bid to get them to take action sooner rather than later.

He said: “The situation is absolutely dreadful, it is getting worse and worse by the week at the moment and I am furious.”

The town is awaiting news from the Welsh Assembly on a confirmed date for the start of work on a new bypass.