A SLUG was to blame for early morning traffic chaos in Staverton yesterday after it affected the power circuit.

Police officers had to direct three-way traffic for nearly four hours before the traffic lights were back to normal after they cut out just before rush hour.

In a post on Bradford on Avon's Neighbourhood Policing Team Facebook page, it said: "If you were inconvenienced by the traffic light failure this morning at Staverton, spare a thought for the slug who made its way on to the circuit board causing the failure."

Although the lights are up and working now, Wiltshire Council confirmed it was in fact a slug who stopped the traffic lights working.

A spokesman added: "The lamp switch card failed in the controller and once this was replaced, the signals were restored.

"Having checked the report back from the engineer, the slug caused a short on the lamp switch card."