Drivers entering York found themselves in long tailbacks today after work on a key A64 access road caused knock-on traffic chaos around the city.

The slip road leading from the dual carriageway into Tadcaster Road is expected to be closed to traffic for the rest of the week.York-bound traffic was diverted along the A64 to enter the city via the A19 Fulford Road.

That left the A19 clogged with traffic early today, with tailbacks stretching back as far as the A64, and the turn-off for Bishopthorpe.Some rush-hour motorists were kept at a standstill for up to 15 minutes.

Brenda Long, 54, from Tadcaster, a shop assistant who had been due in at work at 9am, was instead still sitting in her car and was going nowhere fast. She said: "I am usually at work by 9am. What can you say? It is annoying and I will have to come up with a different route tomorrow."

A spokeswoman for the AA said the roadworks were causing standing traffic on the A64 and the A19 at the Fulford interchange, and predicted the problems will persist for the rest of the week.

She said: "It probably won't be as bad after today; people will remember and take different routes, but there will still be problems. It is one of the busiest routes into York with a lot of traffic coming from Leeds."

Today's work was unlikely to cause serious delays for commuters heading home tonight.

But once the work on the east-bound slip road has been completed, the third and final stage of the project will close the slip road from Tadcaster Road on to the westbound A64, and that will cause headaches for motorists leaving York in the evening.

The slip road from the westbound A64 into Tadcaster Road was also closed for resurfacing recently as part of the £92,000 project, but has since reopened.

Meanwhile, police in East Yorkshire today appealed for witnesses after a Pocklington man was killed when two cars collided on the A1079 yesterday morning.

The fatal smash took place at the A1079 junction with West Green, near Pocklington Gliding Club, just after 8am, and the road was blocked until after 11am when the vehicles were removed.

John Allan Craven, 29, of Clayfield Road, Pocklington, died at the wheel of his white Ford Sierra, coming from the direction of Pocklington. He is believed to have been killed instantly.

The other vehicle involved was a red Volkswagen Golf heading from York towards Beverley. The driver, Roger Hawkridge, 52, from Welton, near Brough, sustained minor cuts and shock.

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact the advice desk at Goole on 01405 721013.

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