DRIVERS faced hours of delays and traffic gridlock in and around Oxford today as emergency gas works continue on A34.

The southbound closure has been in place for more than 18 hours and cars are being diverted off through the city causing long tailbacks.

Reports show drivers bumper to bumper on the A34 ahead of the closure from the A44 Woodstock Road at Peartree Interchange and A423 at Hinksey Hill Interchange.

Motorists reported congestion throughout the city with journeys taking around an hour to get from North Oxford to Botley Road.

SGN spokeswoman Hannah Adam said: “We need to carry out an emergency repair to our gas main in a section of the A34 Southern By-Pass Road at Oxford. "It’s essential we carry out this work to ensure a continued safe and reliable gas supply to Oxford homes and businesses.

"We appreciate this is a very busy road and would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused. We will be working 24 hours a day to complete our repairs as quickly as possible."

Ms Adam added that a single lane closure was originally planned but due to the positioning of the gas main a full road closure was required.

Authorities were alerted to the leak yesterday, and the southbound carriageway was closed for emergency repairs at 8pm.

A spokesman for Highways England said the gas leak was found yesterday afternoon and the dual-carriageway closed from 10.45am to 12.40pm while engineers identified where it was coming from and made it safe.

The road was re-opened until last night, when it was closed again so engineers could carry out the repairs.

Highways England expect to re-open the carriageway at midnight tonight and added: "It's closed until about midnight, signposted diversions are in place.

"People will get plenty of warning."

Diversions are in place at both interchanges and warnings about the closure have been put up on the M40 and A40 to alert motorists to the closure.