Liverpool’s Car Free Day had to be ended early after it led to severe gridlock.
A large part of The Strand was closed by Liverpool City Council on Thursday in a bid to encourage people to use alternative travel methods in the city centre.
But the planned event was scrapped two hours before its 4pm end due to large queues of traffic starting to build up on the main road and side streets.
A council spokesperson said: “Unfortunately due to the heavy rain many of the Car Free Day activities planned to take place on The Strand had to be called off.
“As a result, the decision was taken to finish the programme earlier and to reopen The Strand. We’d like to thank everyone who has supported today’s programme.
“We know a closure like this will cause some disruption, but the council is committed to improving the air quality of the city and statements like today are a way to make people think about how they travel.
“The council is also investing in more infrastructure be it cycling lanes to a new e-bike service to provide more opportunities for people to make that step towards a healthier lifestyle and a healthier environment.”