Motorists were stuck for up to 40 minutes trying to exit North Street's NCP car park as stationary-car drivers hooted and people's patience became more and more frayed.

Traffic was backed up along North Street, St Thomas Street and Castle Road for the majority of Saturday afternoon.

NCP car park line manager Keith Palmer had to direct traffic away from the car park in North Street because it was full.

He said he thought the problem could have stemmed from part of Marine Drive being shut off.

He added: "But if that is the case, why haven't they got traffic wardens or police sorting the traffic flow out?"

The weekend's events included Scarborough Fair in William Street coach park, which reduced the amount of parking space in town, and the Fat Face extreme mountain biking, which closed off part of Marine Drive.

The gridlock added to drivers' increasing frustrations towards Scarborough's new traffic system.

There is ongoing controversy in Scarborough over the number of sets of traffic lights which have been put up as part of the town's new integrated transport scheme which includes the creation of a new park and ride site in Seamer Road, near Deans Garden Centre.

Over the past few months new traffic lights have been installed at the end of Valley Bridge, leading to Ramshill, in Filey Road and at Queen Margaret's Road roundabout.