The A34 has re-opened after emergency gas works putting an end to two days of misery for motorists.

Drivers faced hours of delays and traffic gridlock in and around Oxford yesterday as emergency gas works shut a section of the A34 from the A44 Woodstock Road at Peartree Interchange to the A423 at Hinksey Hill.

Gas company SGN tweeted that emergency repairs to a gas main had been finished just after 10am and the road re-opened at midday.

The closure was in place through the day yesterday and cars were being diverted off through the city causing long tailbacks.

Drivers sat 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 also reported congestion throughout the city with some journeys taking around an hour to get from North Oxford to Botley Road.

Hannah Adam of gas network company SGN said: “We needed to carry out an emergency repair to our gas main in a section of the A34 Southern By-Pass Road at Oxford.

"It was 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."

She said the company apologised for any inconvenience caused but insisted crews working 24 hours a day to complete the repairs as quickly as possible.

Ms Adam said 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 on Saturday afternoon before the southbound carriageway was closed for emergency repairs at 8pm.

A spokesman for Highways England said the gas leak was found on Saturday 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, then closed again at about 8pm so engineers could carry out the repairs.

Highways England were expected to re-open the carriageway at midnight last night. The spokesman said signposted diversions were in place, with drivers getting plenty of warning about the closure.

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

Drivers in Oxford reported traffic congestion yesterday afternoon, with some journeys between the north, west and south of the city taking more than an hour.