A petition to "stop Vicarage Road chaos" has gained nearly 600 signatures in 24 hours.

Residents and commuters have faced a week of road misery since the start of a trial by Hertfordshire County Council to make a stretch of Vicarage Road one-way.

The petition, which was launched by Susan Gaszczak, said: "Residents in and around Watford have suffered two days horrific traffic as a one-way system was introduced on the weekend (October 3).

"The new one-way system has caused buses to run an hour late, caused journeys to become five times as long as they would normally be.

"This is the main access point to the main hospital that serves all of South West Hertfordshire. Being stuck in that traffic with a sick relative/loved one would be horrific.

"Hertfordshire County Council - stop this trial now. Rethink the scheme and try again. This will only be worse once the tube station opens."

The one-way restriction is active in Vicarage Road between Rose Gardens and Stripling Way, heading north towards the town centre.

During the trial, the traffic lights on the bridge by Laurance Haines Primary School will not be operational.

The trial is due to run until February when the road will revert to two-way access before a final decision is made.

Hertfordshire County Council has said previously the scheme was developed with the forthcoming Croxley Rail Link station, Watford Vicarage Road, in mind.