The county council has defended how it handled traffic management after frustrated motorists experienced severe delays during the Oxford Half Marathon.

Sunday’s endurance event saw traffic gridlock across the city with key roads closed to drivers and traffic channelled onto alternative routes.

A mother of two, who asked not to be named, reported it taking her two hours to drive from Summertown to the railway station.

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And Rebecca Davies, from Oxford, said it took her 90 minutes to drive from Woodstock Road to Littlemore.

Another motorist Mary Biclou said her drive from Abingdon to Hinksey Park took over an hour.

An engineer from North Oxford added: "The knock-on effects hit the A34, so it is now impacting the national road system. I saw an ambulance on blue lights stuck in traffic near Wolvercote roundabout with no way of getting through the traffic."

But the county council has said diversions were publicised well in advance of the road closures with road signs visible to motorists in the days leading up to the event.

It was a record-breaking half marathon in Oxford with around 13,000 runners making it the biggest event yet. 

Oxford Mail: Runners coming down Banbury Road during the half marathon Runners coming down Banbury Road during the half marathon (Image: Ed Nix)

One person attending the event, who did not wish to be named, argued the county council could have given the race a miss this year.

He pointed out that the city is already being hit with the closure of Botley Road.

The road closure was extended over the Christmas period by Network Rail after the key route had initially been scheduled to temporarily reopen for four months.

Sunday’s gridlock saw an ambulance on blue light stuck in traffic, as well as buses being diverted through Jericho and blocking the narrow streets.

In response, a county council spokesman said: “The Oxford Half Marathon is a popular annual event which attracts thousands of runners and raises large sums of money for charity. It takes place on a Sunday morning to minimise disruption.

“Diversions were publicised in advance and were marked via the Oxford ring road.

Oxford Mail: Traffic in the city centre Traffic in the city centre (Image: Contributed)

“Exemptions to closures were included for emergency services, event participants, support and safety vehicles and for emergency works to services in the roads.

“Residential access and deliveries were managed by marshals.”

Broad Street and sections of Parks Road and Museum Road were closed from Saturday before the race day for the installation of the start and finish areas.

Organisers Limelight Sports Club said all roads, except for Broad Street, Radcliffe Square and Parks Road - between Holywell Street and South Parks road - would be re-opened by 2.30pm on Sunday.