TRAMS had to be diverted yesterday after a car got stuck on tram tracks.

It is believed the driver had followed her satnav instructions and ignored signs saying there was no access for cars on tracks at the side of the Broadmarsh Shopping Centre before the Station Street stop in Nottingham.

The incident happened at about 11am and trams were disrupted for about 25 minutes. They had to turn round in Old Market Square while the car was removed by Nottingham Express Transit technicians.

Stuart Cobb, who works for Car Park Solutions Ltd, next to the Broadmarsh Centre, took this photo of the car after he spotted it as he drove past yesterday. "I couldn't believe it. I had to look twice," he said.

"When I drove by I thought, 'Can vehicles go down there?'. The front wheel of the vehicle was completely down the gap; there is about a foot drop either side of the track.

"The road markings are actually quite confusing though."

Ray Harris, of NET, said it was unusual but had happened before.

"My understanding from the woman was that she had followed her satnav," he said.

"People are not supposed to drive down there and if they do, they run the risk of damaging their cars. We just want to remind people to obey the road signs and the road markings.

"There are white lines, there are also cats eyes and there are signs that say no entry for cars."

He added that the markings on the road had been approved by the Highways Agency.

He also said the stranded car would not have posed a danger for the woman or tram passengers because if a tram had approached, it would have been able to stop in time.