Cars crammed the streets and people of all ages faced waits of at least half an hour outside the Thomas Walker Medical Centre, in Prince's Street, to get their jab.

It was the first day the jabs were made available at the centre this year, and people were taking no chances and making sure they got in at the first available opportunity.

Medical practices have to complete the jabs in their own time, so the centre, which doesn't usually open at weekends, opened its doors to the public for a special day.

The centre houses three separate practices – the Thomas Walker practice, the Huntly Grove practice and the Minster medical practice – as well as a dentist and pharmacy.

Ken Johnson (64), who had travelled to the centre from Woodston, said he believed the queues had been caused by block-booking appointments, and a lack of staff compared to the number of people coming in.

He said: "There are too many people for the amount of doctors that are on. It's gridlocked.

"I left early to get here so I could park. But I got into Dogsthorpe Road, and I couldn't turn into here, so I went right around and came back the other way."

Meanwhile, another patient, Graham Perry, said he hadn't seen anything like it at a doctor's surgery in more than 20 years.

"It's ridiculous," he said, adding: "I've been waiting in my car for 15 minutes just sitting here to leave. Couldn't they get the police in and make it a one-way street?

"That would have cleared all this up. Last year I came with my wife and we just walked in and got the jab and walked out again."

For more information on flu jabs, visit www.immunisation. nhs.uk or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.