Long traffic delays in Largs on Monday afternoon sparked anger from motorists.

Many exasperated motorists took to the Largs News Facebook site to moan about the long delays with traffic backed up the Haylie Brae, and to Fairlie throughout the afternoon and early evening, affecting commuters who were forced to wait for an hour or more.

The roadworks outside Douglas Park for the construction of the new traffic lights was a factor in the delays. Police had to get involved in directing the traffic.

Largs man Ian Murdoch, who is standing as an independent candidate in the forthcoming North Ayrshire Council elections, said: "The roads authorities have experience of closing off the Main Street in Largs and should have provided some kind of diversion but there was no official alternative.

"May Street and Anthony Road should have been used for a diversion. May Street has a 7 and a half ton weight limit, but cars could have been diverted down, and it would have eased the pressure.

"There was a contraflow system in place at the roadworks, but it really isn't good enough and someone needs to take responsibility in these situations, and look at some strategic measures to alleviate it, and at least relieve the areas of long traffic queues."