A DRIVER’S bizarre decision to abandon his car in the middle of the road caused traffic mayhem in Colchester city centre.

The grey Vauxhall was ditched outside Yates in Head Street by the motorist who locked it and then proceeded to stroll towards High Street.

Traffic was unable to pass the vehicle in the single carriageway road due to the adjacent cycle lane.

Police officers in attendance on Tuesday afternoon were forced to smash the car’s window and release the handbrake in order to tow it away.

Gazette: Traffic - congestion quickly built up as the car blocked everyone's route through the city centreTraffic - congestion quickly built up as the car blocked everyone's route through the city centre (Image: @Chrisains on Twitter)

  • Video credit @JoeJeffsPhotos on Instagram.

A spokesman confirmed a man “got out of his car in Head Street and walked off” before officers were called to the scene at 1pm.

The vehicle was then towed away about half an hour later, he added.

An eyewitness said the peculiar decision created a “nightmare” as buses, cars and vans were all forced to wait.

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Chris, who works at Footprint Digital overlooking Head Street, said: “CCTV shows the man pulling up, stopping at a green light outside Yates, and then getting out of his car and walking towards High Street.

Gazette: Bizarre - the Vauxhall driver locked the car and walked down High StreetBizarre - the Vauxhall driver locked the car and walked down High Street (Image: @Chrisains on Twitter)

“He seemed to just be a normal man.”

Chris said the odd episode unfolded for about an hour before the police managed to shift the car and free the traffic.

“It was a nightmare,” he added. “We could see all the way down Head Street and I imagine it had backed up all the way down St John’s Street.

“Anyone who tried to go down Head Street would have had to wait ages.”

Gazette: Removed - the car is towed away by the policeRemoved - the car is towed away by the police (Image: @Chrisains on Twitter)

Cycle lanes in the city centre have attracted criticism for their purported role in adding to congestion.

Essex County Council installed the various routes as part of its Safer, Greener, Healthier scheme, designed to encourage walking and cycling in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

A segregated cycle lane in Headgate, which connected Southway with Head Street, was installed in 2020 but was subsequently removed in March last year after it attracted controversy.