Gridlocked traffic caused shoppers to be left stranded in a shopping centre car park last night, leading to children becoming distressed and fights between motorists.
The situation outside the Trafford Centre in Manchester escalated as those left trapped turned on each other. Visitors have shared their ordeals after some were stuck for a gruelling five hours.
Business administrator Cody Fisher and his boyfriend Lewis Moran, a healthcare worker, had visited the centre for a trip to the cinema. After driving around the car park for an hour in search of a space, they went inside and emerged at 3pm to scenes of congested traffic.
The couple, aged 18 and 20, returned to their car but endured a five-hour wait completely stationary.
Cody told Manchester Evening News: “We went to the car and everyone was on the road, and the engines were turned off. We thought that’s a bit weird. Then 20 minutes went by, and another 20 minutes went by. When we got to about half six, seven, that’s when people starting getting really annoyed.”
The delays were as long as five hours.
(Image: Supplied)
Some people took matters into their own hands, resorting to opening gates usually left closed to make their own exits. Tensions were running high, with Cody witnessing a scuffle between two drivers. He said: “It was like throwing hands [at] each other. It was this lady and another lady, the first lady had a child with diabetes.”
“They were screaming ‘we’ve been here five hours’, and ‘we’re not letting you pass’. Everyone started shouting saying stop being so selfish – I’ve never seen anything like it, it’s a Christmas nightmare.”
Even after five hours, the couple had barely moved. He added: “We edged out of the space, about 30cm. I’ve got voice messages of people screaming. There’s swearing, verbal abuse.”
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One shopper, Natalia Suska, 33, and her partner Piyush Sheopuri, 31, were left stuck in the chaos after only visiting one shop. She was left shocked by the scenes that unfolded.
She said: “I’ve never experienced something like that, even the day before Christmas. It wasn’t that bad, we’ve been here on the 23rd and it was busy but not that much.”
The Mirror reported the Trafford Centre put the delays down to a combination of Christmas shoppers and traffic from the Manchester United match. A spokesperson said: “With a busy day at the centre, combined with external factors such as the Manchester United game taking place nearby, the roads in and out of the centre were more congested than usual.
“We worked closely with Greater Manchester Police and the highways authorities, deploying officers in key areas, to try and get things moving as quickly as possible. We appreciate our visitors’ patience whilst trying to get in and out of the car parks.”
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