Work to repair a gas leak on Portland has caused significant delays for drivers trying to get onto the island - and it's going to cause more problems this week.

Temporary traffic lights have been put in place whilst gas distribution company SGN works to fix the leak at the bottom of New Road.

The work to fix the leak started on Friday, February 16.

At around 4pm on Friday, these lights caused massive tailbacks with traffic seen queuing off Portland, along the beach road and as far as Ferrybridge at Wyke Regis, a distance of more than two miles.

Read more: Portland: SGN Gas install traffic lights to fix gas leak

Dorset Echo: Taken at around 4pm on Friday, this picture shows just how long the tailback was on Portland Beach RoTaken at around 4pm on Friday, this picture shows just how long the tailback was on Portland Beach Ro (Image: Bazzer Rushforth)

It appeared that work was halted at the weekend with the traffic lights turned off.

However it's due to restart today and could last as long as Friday, February 23.

It could cause even more traffic disruption this week as children return to school after the half-term break so there will be more traffic on the road for the school-run.

Martina Brickwell lives in Underhill and she watched on Friday as the queue grew from a few cars to a lengthy tailback onto the beach road and back towards Weymouth.

She said: "Something needs to be done to stop traffic coming to a standstill whenever the road is slightly blocked. I know it frustrates 99 per cent of the island.

"The queue was stretching back to the beginning of the Portland Beach Road at Ferrybridge and that happened in about 20 minutes - and it lasted a couple of hours."

Dorset Echo: The temporary traffic lights are at the start of New RoadThe temporary traffic lights are at the start of New Road (Image: Cristiano Magaglio)

Nigel Dewland from Underhill said: "One thing blocks up the road and it shuts but there is not much that can be done about it because there is only one road (onto Portland).

"Luckily I missed it on Friday. Everybody was telling me it was horrible. But I will probably get stuck in it later this week."

An employee at The Flat Café in Fortuneswell, who had a front-row seat to the queue outside the window, said: "Something happens and the road just blocks up.

"We need another road going up (the hill). The beach road is the beach road, there is nothing else, but if we have a different road (to get to the top) it would help us a lot."

He added: "It is a nightmare. First of all, everybody, everyone is in a rush.

"Luckily (last week)  wasn't a school run, with everyone going to pick up their kids."

A spokesperson for Dorset Council said on Friday: "We have been made aware of emergency signals on New Road, Portland due to SGN repairing a gas leak. Please be aware of delays in the area."

SGN has been contacted for more information.