TRAFFIC in Dawlish is being described as ‘chaos’ as road closures are in place ahead of tonight’s British Cycling event.

Drivers are complaining of being stuck in traffic with cars ‘bumper to bumper and the town centre is said to be ‘gridlocked’ and ‘absoulte carnage’.

The Dawlish Grand Prix is the last in the Lloyds National Circuit Series which sees the best riders in the country in town for the final round of the prestigious British Cycling Series.

Dawlish has been chosen for the first time as the final host town.

But there are a series of road closures currently in place which will continue until 10pm.

This has caused some disruption with delivery drivers caught out.

One resident reported taking an hour and a half to get from Sainsbury’s at Shutterton to the other side of the town at Westcliff.

Drivers are reported to be ‘angry’ and frustrated at the hold ups.

Another resident complained: ‘Workers in the Strand can't get their cars out of their car park, delivery drivers who can't deliver, residents who can't use their cars, tourists who have no where to park to go round the town as no coach parking, and that's just a few things, whoever thought this up needs to be a bit more proactive on what it does to the town.

‘No thought has gone into it, not good for business in the town it's a disaster.’

But others pointed out there had been plenty of advance warning about the event which is bringing elite professional cyclists to the town for the first time.

The event has been planned for many months and there have been warnings in place about the road closures.

Diversions signs are in place along with marshalls.

Devon County Council’s highways alerts said earlier that the closures would affect bus services 2 and 11 from Exeter and Torbay.

The town centre will be accessible to buses only between 10am and 6pm.

During this time the town centre stops at Dawlish Green will be closed. The nearest stops between 10am and 6pm will be either on Teignmouth Hill or Exeter Road.

From 6pm until 10pm a full road closure will be in place and buses will be unable to serve Dawlish.

The last journeys that will be able to serve the route normally are: Service 2 from Exeter 1655, from Newton Abbot 1655 and Service 11 from Torquay 1624, from Dawlish Warren 1705.