OXFORD’S Eastern Bypass is the fourth most congested road in Britain, according to technology firm TomTom.

Cars are reduced to a crawl for an average 86 hours a week on the 50mph road between Headington and Heyford Hill roundabouts.

The firm used data from its portable satellite navigation systems used by motorists.

County roads boss Ian Hudspeth, of Oxfordshire County Council, said it was unlikely schemes would be introduced to relieve traffic because of funding constraints.

The Conservative cabinet member for growth and infastructure said: “The county council continues to press the case to Government for such funding.”

But Labour’s John Sanders said: “We had this problem 10 years ago with the same number of people wanting to go home each night, and nobody has done anything about it.”

He said a new roundabout planned for Heyford Hill would reduced congestion. The roundabout – cutting two lanes through the centre of the junction and widening the eastbound section of the bypass – is funded by Sainsbury as part of improvements to its store.

Mary Stiff, 80, who lives in Corunna Crescent, near the bypass, said: “Every day, the problems start at 6.45am.

“It is nose to tail. Then it all starts again in the evening at about 4:30pm. It is pretty dreadful, but people just have to suffer it.”