TRAFFIC is slow around the county and in the New Forest today.

Earlier this afternoon, there were problems on many of the area's roads, including:

  • The A338 Salisbury Road at Blashford, Ringwood. Travel time is 23 minutes
  • Spread Eagle Hill at Melbury Abbas. Road has reopened after accident
  • A31 Ringwood Road, Cadnam. Very slow
  • A354 Pimperne. Speed restrictions of 40mph due to the Great Dorset Steam Fair
  • A351 Corfe Castle. Temporary traffic lights and heavy traffic
  • A350 Parkstone Road, Poole. Long-term roadworks
  • A350 Durweston. Roadworks and temporary traffic lights
  • A351 Stoborough Green. Heavy traffic. Travel time is 12 minutes
  • A35 Southampton Road, Lyndhurst. Travel time is 15 minutes
  • A351 Sandford and Holton Heath. Travel time is 12 minutes
  • A337 Romsey Road, Lyndhurst. Travel time is 26 minutes
  • A35 Bere Regis. Heavy traffic
  • B3073 Christchurch Road, Hurn. Slow traffic
  • A35 Barrack Road, Christchurch. Heavy traffic
  • Blandford Road, Hamworthy. Heavy traffic
  • A337 Clay Hill and Shrubs Hill, Lyndhurst. Busy but moving
  • A31 between Canford Bottom and Merley. Telegraph pole on fire has closed the road
  • B3369 Panorama Road, Parkstone. Slow due to holiday traffic 
  • B3071 High Street, West Lulworth. Queuing traffic
  • A31 Ringwood Road, Picket Post. Very slow
  • A35 Bournemouth Road, Lyndhurst. Queueing traffic
  • A338 Spur Road, Ashley Heath. Heavy traffic
  • South Western Train Service officials have also warned of 'very busy' trains between Waterloo and Weymouth. A spokesperson said passengers 'may not be able to travel by their intended train', adding: "We are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause to your journey plans"

However, as of 9.30pm, problem areas are:

  • The A31 at Ringwood. Queuing traffic
  • The B3369 Shore Road, Canford Cliffs. Heavy traffic
  • There are also long queues for buses from Poole bus station

Here are some readers' reports from the roads...

"Gridlock from Upton Poole to Wareham - took a hour-and-a-half but when we got to the Wareham bypass it was fine even the road to Corfe Castle. Good luck travelling back tonight"

"Came back from Reading festival today and it must have taken us at least two hours from Rownhams services to Winton. May have been more but I gave up counting!"

"The Salisbury road on to the Ringwood roundabout is gridlocked and backing back onto the Sopley Road because people don’t understand what keep clear means on the roundabout"

"Lulworth is at a standstill"