Organisers of the New Swindon Half Marathon have said they will review traffic management for next year after a number of people reported gridlock across the town.

Speaking at the finish line Graeme Hardie, one of the race directors, thanked the town for their support and patience due to the road closures which has caused traffic chaos for many.

He said: "There was always going to be issues with traffic because of the road closures. But this is the first year and we will review traffic management with police and the council after the event.

"The advance warning signs have been out for three weeks and so now we know we have to double if not triple them next year to make people not ignore them.

"We knew it would be traffic chaos but we need people to accept that this is the first year of the new route for the half marathon and we will look at how it works and make sure it works better next time.

"We went to all the stops to notify people and it is not possible to tell every single person. Year one was always going to be difficult but we want this event to be something the town loves and embraces and not one they can't stand."

A number of residents got in touch with The Adver to voice their anger at the road closures.

One taxi driver said it had taken him two-and-three-quarter hours to get from the town centre to The Dockle Farmhouse on Bridge End Road in Stratton. He queried why so many of the town's road crossings under the railway line had been closed.

June Young said: "How to screw up a town in one easy lesson: close all the major roads into the centre of town for a half marathon. Nobody can get into the town for shopping - it took myself and my partner three quarters of an hour to travel four miles from Rodbourne to Wroughton, which should only take 10 or 15 minutes."

Another disgruntled driver rang The Adver from her vehicle on Cheney Manor Road having tried to get into town from Kingsdown and been stuck in traffic for an hour. The woman said: "Everywhere is jammed. Trying to get across Swindon is hopeless. 

"A lot of people are turning around and trying to go back the way they came. There are a lot of disgruntled people by the looks of it. It will cause accidents too, with people making u-turns and trying to change lanes. It's an absolute mess."

Katie McDougall also took issue with the road closures affecting residents in Eldene. She said: "Both entrances to Eldene are closed

"There was an elderly lady at bus stop waiting for hour until I explained why there were no busses.

"There were no runners at Liden entrance to Eldene but I had to argue to get to my home with my 2 year old in Bowleymead after driving from London.

"We had no leaflet through the door to explain closures and times even though they completely shut off Eldene. So today Eldene residents are trapped along with rest of the housing scheme along the way.

"They should keep it to half of the town then it would be better for other people not running."