MOTORISTS were left fuming after being stuck in traffic on one of Bournemouth's busiest roads - because someone at the council decided it would be a good day to cut the grass and bushes in the central reservation.

With thousands of people heading for the opening day of the Bournemouth Air Festival or to the Great Dorset Steam Fair near Blandford, one lane of the Ringwood Road dual carriageway was closed in both directions between the Mountbatten Arms and Bear Cross roundabout.

The decision was attacked by drivers who became caught up in the huge tailbacks, which extended beyond Ferndown in one direction and along the Dorset Way in Poole in the other.

Chris Bayliss of Canford Heath, Poole, accused the council of "losing the plot".

He pointed out that the route also had direction signs to the temporary park-and-ride sites for air festival visitors.

David Gorman, whose journey from Poole to St Leonards took 90 minutes instead of the usual 20, said: "It beggars belief.

"There's the Ideal Home Exhibition, the air show and the steam fair going on.

"A lot of people were coming that way to avoid the steam fair traffic. Traffic was completely snarled up between the Mountbatten Arms and the Sainsbury's roundabout of the A31.

"Somebody's head should roll."

Mark Smith, Bournemouth's head of tourism services, said: "This was planned work in the morning to ensure a pleasant approach for visitors coming into Bournemouth for the Air Festival, which started at 2pm. There were lane closures, which were effectively compounded by several breakdowns on the same stretch of road.

"The next three days are expected to be the busiest of the Air Festival.

"Given the issues raised on this occasion, we will ensure that for future events these works are carried out in advance and not on the same day."