David BaleCommuters faced traffic chaos this morning after several crashes in the area, with tailbacks of up to three miles between the A146 and A140 turn-offs on the southern bypass.David Bale

Commuters faced traffic chaos this morning with icy conditions blamed for several crashes in the area.

Tailbacks of up to three miles were witnessed between the A146 and A140 turn-offs on the southern bypass.

Norfolk Constabulary is urging motorists to take extra care when travelling throughout the county today because of the black ice on the roads.

Two cars were involved in an accident on the westbound A47 between the A140 and A11 junctions at about 8.15am.

Two elderly people were believed to be stuck in a car in the outside lane that had shunted into another vehicle, however no-one was injured.

There was subsequently another collision as a driver stopped to help those in the initial crash - their car was in involved in an accident with another vehicle. Both incidents are likely to be cleared by about 10am.

Two cars were also involved in a crash on the eastbound carriageway of the A47 near the Thickthorn roundabout, and two other vehicles were involved in an accident under the railway bridge in Green Lane North, Thorpe End, near Norwich.

Earlier, at about 8am, a car flipped onto its roof in a single-vehicle accident on the B1113 near the World's End pub in Mulbarton.

The police vehicle attending the scene was also involved in an accident.

Janice Mark, who works for Archant, the publishers of The Evening News, said: 'I saw the overturned car and it took us about 25 minutes to get by it. It was a nightmare journey. It took me about 90 minutes to get to work in Norwich from Mulbarton.'

Meanwhile, one lane of the A149 Caister bypass remains closed Yarmouth-bound following a three-vehicle road traffic collision. Two females have minor injuries.