FOR the last two Fridays, I have left my office in Winckley Square as usual at 4.30pm.

By 6pm, after spending half an hour getting out of Avenham car park, I was still in Avenham Lane.

Last Friday, November 9, people were abandoning their cars in restricted parking zones, it was that bad. They simply were not moving at all.

After working in Preston for ten years, I'm used to the traffic.

I assumed it was the start of the Christmas chaos. Some say it was roadworks. One thing I do know is that I won't be driving into Preston this Friday.

Tony Thomson, Winckley Square worker.