BOLTON Wanderers chiefs have criticised Bolton Council over traffic jams after matches at the Reebok Stadium.

But they want to meet town hall officials to try to solve the problem.

The club has spoken out following claims from supporters that it can take up to two hours to get away from the ground on matchdays.

Officials blame the council for relaxing the rules on supporters parking at Middlebrook Retail Park, which is supposed to be for shoppers only, so encouraging more traffic in the area.

Club chiefs say they have only recently received support from the council about parking issues.

The council has offered to hold a summit meeting with Wanderers, the police and retailers to find a solution to the problems.

A club spokesman said: "We are delighted that the council has agreed to a meeting regarding parking and traffic management in and around the Reebok Stadium on matchdays.

"We have had ideas for quite some time which until now have not received the support of the council.

"We are concerned, as are the police, that on matchdays the council's reluctance to impose its own planning conditions on developments around the stadium has worsened transport and traffic movements.

"The retail park, when it first opened, specifically said that it would not allow football parking and that operated well.

"Subsequently, they have relaxed that policy and traffic leaving the retail park is fans who park free and are seeking then to gain an advantage in getting away from the complex."

The spokesman said the club had video evidence that, on most match days, supporters could leave the stadium within an hour of the match ending.

The club has been operating subsidised buses for supporters to encourage them to leave their cars at home.

They leave the stadium 20 minutes after the final whistle. The spokesman said: "The club regularly reviews its parking and traffic management strategy and we try to adopt a pro-active approach with other local agencies.

"We have a particularly good working relationship with the police.

"We have also sought the opinions of the Bolton Wanderer Supporters Association and we would listen to views from all supporters."

A Bolton Council spokesman said: "We liaise regularly with the police with regard to congestion around the stadium and at Middlebrook and are still prepared to meet with all parties concerned to do what we can to further ease the problems in the area.

"The issue of supporters parking within the shopping area is not one that we can control as all of the car parks are privately owned.

"As such, it is the responsibility of the Middlebrook managers and tenants to introduce any restrictions they feel are appropriate."