Traffic chaos: Christmas shoppers endure three-hour jam in Sydney car park and 6-hour nightmare in UK's Bluewater mall

Bluewater mall in Kent - one of Britain's biggest shopping centres - was full of angry motorists with access to Twitter. Photo / Twitter

It's a nightmare before Christmas for shoppers experiencing traffic hell queuing for hours at gridlocked shopping centre carparks.

At Britain's fourth largest shopping centre at Bluewater in Kent, motorists were hemmed in the chaos for up to six hours as shoppers raced to fit in last minute present buying.

The Daily Mail reported motorists were in tears behind their wheels as roads in and out of the huge mall ground to a halt.

Some frustrated shoppers added to the chaos by abandoning vehicles and returning to the mall while others vented on social media.

Pics of getting out #bluewater tonight over 2hrs. Took 90 mins to get out of the car park. Not a warden in sight. pic.twitter.com/aLGlq1SpUu

— Emma Mulcrow (@EmmieLouX) December 21, 2015

Currently at a standstill after the 2nd attempt of leaving #Bluewater. 1st attempt was at 4 gave up and had dinner. pic.twitter.com/wR85iwpCUt

— Emma Mulcrow (@EmmieLouX) December 21, 2015

After 6 hour delay in the #bluewater carpark. Finally on the move! 😡 @TweetBluewater pic.twitter.com/0OMulagZxH

— Clarkie (@theclarkemaster) December 21, 2015

@RichardA27 @Kent_999s nah it's more than that. I've been here since 3pm. Not moved more than 100 metres

— Clarkie (@theclarkemaster) December 21, 2015

Across the Tasman shoppers have faced a similar nightmare stuck in three-hour traffic jams to get of the Castle Towers car park in Sydney's northwest.

Drivers have described chaotic scenes trying to get out of the popular mall's multi-level carpark.

Castle Towers management called in local police to help ease congestion at the Castle Hill complex, with officers at almost every car park guiding traffic through busy intersections.

Police at the Hills Local Area Command warned customers of extensive delays for patrons leaving the shopping centre.

The jam at Sydney's Castle Towers mall frustrated shoppers. Photo / Channel Seven

"Some members of the public have had to wait up to an 1.5 hours before they could leave ... due to large numbers of shoppers and cars, extensive delays will continue," the local area command posted on Facebook.

Woman says she's been in Castle Towers carpark for three hours. They're trying to help get a car out where kids are car sick & throwing up.

— Eliza Berlage (@verbaliza) December 22, 2015

Woman tells us she has moved five metres in about an hour in the Castle Towers carpark. - Christmas shopping is a sanity hazard.

— Eliza Berlage (@verbaliza) December 22, 2015

It was taking up to 3hrs to get out of the Castle Towers carpark today. This is (partly) why I don't go shopping this close to Christmas!

— Helen Perris (@helenperris) December 22, 2015