A LEADING businessman has hit out over the traffic chaos caused by a series of roadworks in a market town.

Don Moore, president of Thirsk Chamber of Trade, said the situation was similar to a siege after two sets of roadworks were put in place at the new Tesco store.

He said: "It has been absolute chaos. The town has become like a siege town and trade has been lost as a consequence. Surely some of the work could have been done at a different time. It is wrong that the town should be held to ransom like this for the sake of one supermarket.

"The chamber is not against Tesco, but the planning of the service roadworks has been a complete fiasco.

"The town is just trying to recover from the effects of foot-and-mouth and attract tourists. But when motorists face such long traffic queues they are likely to drive straight past."

The head of development at Hambleton District Council, Maurice Cann, said the authority was aware of Tesco's works, but others were urgent water company works.

"Speaking in defence of Tesco, workmen have been working long hours seven days a week to try to get the works completed as soon as possible," he said.