ON Friday 13th August drivers had been stuck in a standstill on the A69 westbound on the approach to the Bridge End roundabout.

Our readers reacted angrily to this as the traffic is due to a new £30m scheme which is close to completion.

David Storey said: "It will be worth it in the end, we'll all be able to get from Newcastle to Carlisle." Alan Dempster added: "The ones that moan on are the ones that will praise the new layout once it's done."

Brian Graham suggested what could be done to avoid long traffic queues. He said: "How about putting a sign up before the stag show! Corbidge turn off warning there will be tailbacks immediately after that bend for what I think is at least 3-4 miles so people can divert through Corbidge and take the egger back road if heading to Hexham."

David Hefferin sarcastically said: "At the rate, it's taking them to complete the bridges you could probably walk to Carlisle faster."

David Fletcher told people how his views had changed on the new layout: "I was against the new layout. Then I had a think, it's going to be better as the traffic going to and from Hexham will be the only ones using the roundabout. Not having all east/west traffic using it should make it better. For the time being it's a pain."