TOWN centre traffic came to a standstill in Petersfield as faulty level crossing barriers at Petersfield railway station failed to lift.

Motorists were stuck in jams on roads around the station, including Frenchmans Road and Station Road,from 9am as engineers worked to replace a part in the mechanism of the barriers.

A sign was erected with notification of an ‘operational incident’. One driver affected said there were no diversion signs in place.

British Transport police were drafted in to help manage the flow of traffic, with Network Rail operations staff advising on when trains were coming through.

A spokesman for Network Rail said while the work was going on, which took until around 6pm on Saturday, February 27, the barrier was lifted when needed to allow traffic through. Trains through Petersfield were not delayed.