A COMBINATION of lorries and a new traffic light system has caused traffic chaos in High Wycombe this afternoon.

The Tesco roundabout, which leads on to Abbey Way, is at the epicentre of the problem as construction vehicles are trying to manoeuvre near it.

Builders working on the Eden project are landscaping the huge roundabout in time for the shopping centre's grand opening next Thursday.

A new intelligent traffic light system, which went live last night, is also adding to the problems.

Six sets of lights are being updated by the county council to deal with the influx of traffic Eden is expected to bring to the town.

As part of the final work to ensure the lights run smoothly, council engineers are testing the system by switching off some of the signals, resulting in jams.

The council says it has every sympathy with motorists struggling through the traffic but this is the final stage on the roadworks around Eden.

Keith Shaw, highway network management and traffic manager, said: "Traffic engineers have been working flat out to get these traffic signals up and running efficiently in time for Eden's opening.

"Synchronising several sets of traffic signals is a complex and time consuming operation and we apologise to motorists who may have been inconvenienced while work has been carried out."