The late opening of a car park caused travel disruption in Ilford during the rush-hour this morning.

The Britannia car park in Clements Road, Ilford, normally opens at 6.30am but remained closed two hours later according to a member of a nearby health club.

Manjit Singh, 40, of Ilford, who uses the Virgin Active Health Club in Clements Road, waited for 45 minutes to gain entry to the 650-space car park before giving up.

He said the car park remained closed after he left Virgin Active at 8.30am.

He said: “From Winston Way roundabout, it was clogged up with traffic because cars and buses couldn’t get through.

“People were still queuing at 8.30am.

“There was a lot of disruption because of traffic from the Virgin Active members and the builders [working in Clements Road].”

The official opening time of the car park is 7am but Mr Singh, who has been a member of the health club for a year, said an attendant always opens it at 6.30am.

A Britannia Parking spokesman said the car park opened at 8.30am but would not provide any further comment.