A nuclear convoy carrying radioactive material was marooned in a village today as huge traffic jams brought Oxfordshire to a virtual standstill.

The convoy was forced off its usual route on to minor roads at Standlake, near Witney, due to the closure of the northbound carriageway of the A34 between Botley and Peartree, Oxford.

It was travelling to RAF Brize Norton from the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston, near Reading, early today, but failed to beat the rush-hour gridlock.

After leaving the M4 and heading for Wantage on the A338 the convoy, escorted by Military Police, became snarled up on the A415 at Standlake as traffic diverted from the A34.

Irene Gill, Oxford co-ordinator for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said: "These convoys travel much too quickly and are very dangerous. Potentially there would be a disaster of enormous proportions were it to crash. If they must travel on the roads, then they should go far more slowly." A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "The problems are absolutely everywhere and people are looking for short-cuts."

Meanwhile, residents in Farmoor, near Oxford, complained of being trapped in their village by the volume of traffic.

Rod Sharp, 55, of Meadow Close, Farmoor, said: "It is like being a prisoner here at the moment. "All the traffic that cannot use the A34 seems to be using alternative routes, especially the Eynsham Road through Farmoor."

"We tried to set off for Oxford early this morning, but it made no difference," said Mr Sharp, whose wife is a student in Oxford. "I just don't understand why they can't do this work in sections. You wonder just what this is all costing in terms of lost time and productivity."

The northbound dual carriageway of the A34 will be closed for the next five weeks for resurfacing and bridge repair work.

Drivers who are travelling northbound are asked to leave the road at Hinksey Hill and follow diversion signs to the east and north of Oxford. A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "There were huge tailbacks on Saturday when northbound drivers tried to leave the A34 at Hinksey.

"Traffic backed up a long way and the bad weather didn't help. The new system should not affect traffic on the Botley Road, but there will be some drivers who will use the route to go through the city, rather than following the diversions."

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