TRAFFIC chaos hit Preston town centre at the weekend, in the seasonal rush to the shops.

Cars were bumper-to-bumper in Corporation Street, backing up under the Fishergate car park tunnel, as early as 10am on Saturday.

It was a similar story in Butler Street, off Fishergate, as motorists headed for Fishergate and railway station car parks.

But drivers continued to join the ever-growing stream of traffic and queued for spaces on the Fishergate car park.

Assistant director of engineering, Peter Corless, said: "Preston is really a victim of its own success. Although this type of problem is a seasonal one, the Christmas rush has started earlier this year, and we have tried to cater for this. "We would urge people to use the Bus Station and Avenham carparks, where there are usually spaces available."

Now, in a bid to combat the weekend traffic crisis, the town centre traffic management team are distributing leaflets on parked cars, outlining the parking provision available.

Also, booklets giving all the facts, can be obtained from the county council's information centre, in the Guild Hall, and in the foyer of Preston Town Hall.

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