Shoppers at the Trafford Centre on Monday, December 29, experienced significant delays and scenes of 'mayhem' as they reported being stuck for hours in gridlocked car parks. Many visitors, who had come for discounted post-Christmas sales, took to social media to express their frustration, with some claiming to have been trapped in their vehicles for over two hours while attempting to leave the major retail centre.

Reports from frustrated motorists highlighted extensive queues leading to the nearby M60 junction, with pictures showing cars wedged in long lines and motorists unable to manoeuvre. One shopper, Katrina Cliffe, described being stuck in a car park outside John Lewis since 3:45 PM, having arrived around noon. She was so exasperated that she abandoned her car to assist with traffic management, guiding other drivers away from the heavily congested area. Cliffe noted that every lane was gridlocked, with cars still entering the car park and blocking exit routes.

Other social media users echoed these sentiments on X (formerly Twitter), describing the situation as 'vile,' 'hell,' and 'appalling traffic management.' One user, stuck for a 'third hour,' questioned whether they would be expected to pay a parking fine. Another, having spent nearly two hours trying to exit, advised others not to visit. The live traffic service Inrix also reported 'very slow traffic' on the M60 anti-clockwise carriageway at Junction 10, with congestion backing up to Junction 15 at Swinton, attributed to the high volume of traffic heading towards the Trafford Centre.

In response to the chaos, the Trafford Centre issued a statement acknowledging the difficulties. They explained that the usual busy footfall and traffic were exacerbated by a vehicle breakdown near Junction 9 of the M60. The centre also stated that they had been advertising throughout the afternoon that all car parks were full. Their dedicated traffic teams, in collaboration with Greater Manchester Police and highways authorities, were deployed in key areas to alleviate the congestion as quickly as possible, and they expressed appreciation for visitors' patience.