BURGER lovers queuing for takeaways at McDonald's drive-thru caused gridlock in Winsford.

Incensed shoppers say they couldn't get in or out of Morrisons as traffic blocked the roundabout.

One angry man told The Guardian: "There were horrendous traffic problems. It was completely gridlocked. I wanted to do some shopping at Morrisons but you couldn't turn right so I just gave up.

"How on earth a fire engine or ambulance would get through the traffic I just don't know. The delays are detrimental to other businesses too."

Long queues were reported last Thursday and during half term.

New measures were being introduced to try and resolve the problem as residents have complained about big queues over the past few months outside the fastfood outlet on Nat Road.

McDonald's had been in discussions with Cheshire West and Chester Council to resolve the congestion.

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Winsford town Cllr Nathan Pardoe and member of Cheshire West and Chester Council met with McDonald's management, council staff and Cllr Karen Shore, cabinet minister for transport, to try and find a solution.

Cllr Pardoe said: "The increased queuing capacity agreed early in October for McDonald's Winsford helped to reduce the drive-thru queues but I know that during half-term the increased demand resulted in unacceptable queues.

"These queues blocked visitors to other businesses and through traffic, with residents understandably concerned about access for emergency services vehicles if they had needed to get through.

"I'm continuing to work with McDonald's and Cheshire West & Chester Council Highways staff to find a sustainable solution which reduces the queues for drive-thru service at McDonald's Winsford."

McDonalds had been experimenting with different ways to accommodate the queue within their site on Wharton Industrial Estate to see which configuration is the most effective.

A McDonald’s spokesman said: “Following a constructive meeting with Cheshire West and Chester Council, we have been trialling solutions to reduce traffic congestion at our Winsford restaurant.

"Although we have had some encouraging early results, with traffic around the restaurant significantly reduced at peak times, we did see queues backing up onto a nearby carriageway on Thursday last week.

"The restaurant was particularly busy that day and we will be reviewing what happened and how we can deal with similar situations in future.”