THREE hours of traffic mayhem gripped Ipswich today as fire crews tackled a small blaze at one of the town's landmark buildings.Hold-ups hit the town's rush-hour drivers as flames took hold of Cranfields Mill at around 7.

THREE hours of traffic mayhem gripped Ipswich today as fire crews tackled a small blaze at one of the town's landmark buildings.

Hold-ups hit the town's rush-hour drivers as flames took hold of Cranfields Mill at around 7.30am.

Six fire vehicles partially blocked College Street and the road was closed at Salthouse Street. The roads were finally opened at around 10.45am.

Motorists were caught up for more than an hour and had to be diverted along Fore Street. Woodbridge Road, Foxhall Road, Back Hamlet and Bishop's Hill were all reported to be badly affected.

Mike Nunn, Suffolk police spokesman, said: “The problems were reported to us by the fire service at 7.45am as they were having problems getting one of their turntable ladder vehicles through.

“We had traffic tailbacks reported by members of the public but there was little we could do to alleviate them and we closed off some of the one-way system.

“By 10.45am College Street had been reopened and the road was clear so traffic was running freely again.”

Drivers were advised by police to avoid the area although it was too late for many who had already set out on their journeys.

Motorist Andrew Bloom, who was stuck in traffic in Star Lane, said: “I have been stuck here for half-an-hour and it will delay me for at least an hour. We were told to avoid the area but there was no other way I could go.”

Another motorist said it had taken him an hour and a half to travel from Derby Road traffic lights to Salthouse Street.