One woman had to exit her car to help with traffic management
17:59, 29 Dec 2025Updated 18:21, 29 Dec 2025
The car park was ‘gridlocked'(Image: Katrina Cliffe)
Shoppers hoping to grab a bargain in the Christmas sales have been left stranded for hours in a ‘gridlocked’ car park.
Katrina Cliffe travelled to the Trafford Centre today (Monday, December 29) to visit the shops before returning to her vehicle.
However, she remained trapped inside the car for hours as she and other drivers were blocked in the car park.
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She claims that was forced to abandon her car and help with traffic management on Monday evening, guiding other motorists away from the large car park outside John Lewis.
She said shoppers became ‘stuck in their cars’ with ‘every lane gridlocked’.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, she said: “We arrived at around 12pm from Huddersfield, and it was already getting busy. It took a while to find a space but it was moving.
“We have been trying to get out of the car park since 3.45, so it’s been over an hour. You just can’t get anywhere.
“The car behind us had already been stuck for 50 minutes when we pulled out.
“There’s cars coming into the car park still to try and find a space, but they are blocking every lane so nobody can even get out. I have walked up to car park eight to tell people not to come any further down.
“The roundabout outside is gridlocked too so nobody can move. It’s crazy how long it’s taken. It’s so bad. I hate coming and usually shop online but my daughter wanted to come after Christmas.”
Another shopper who visited the Trafford Centre on Monday morning described it as ‘chaos.’
They said: “I am free now, but was sat there for nearly two hours. It was chaos. I’d only nipped in for a browse.”
One X user added: “Trafford centre is absolutely vile, it’s hell trying to get out the car park.”
Another said: “We have been trying to get off of the car park now for 2 hours.”
Posting a series of videos, another user fumed: “Wouldn’t even bother trying to get in or out the trafford centre at this point, third hour sat here, appalling traffic management. Hope you’re not expecting me to pay a parking fine.”
Live traffic service Inrix reported there was ‘very slow traffic’ on the M60 anti-clockwise at Junction 10, with congestion backed up to Junction 15 at Swinton ‘due to people heading towards the Trafford Centre’.
A Trafford Centre spokesperson said: “With a busy day at the centre and nearby retail parks, combined with a vehicle breakdown at Junction 9, roads in and out of the centre are more congested than usual.
“We have been advertising throughout the afternoon that all car parks are full. Our dedicated traffic teams have been working with Greater Manchester Police and the highways authorities, deploying officers in key areas, to try and get things moving as quickly as possible.
“We appreciate our visitors’ patience whilst trying to get in and out of the car parks.”