A retired school teacher is calling on road and rail bosses to work closer together to find a solution to traffic misery.

Sue Morris launched a petition after becoming fed up with the amount of motorists who use the narrow bridge over the River Medway in East Farleigh.

Mrs Morris said the village becomes gridlocked during the morning and evening rush hour when cars battle to cross the single-lane structure, leading to heated exchanges between drivers.

Latest figures show 6,840 motorists travel over the 14th century medieval bridge every day.

It sits between Station Road and Farleigh Hill and is metres from a hand-operated railway level crossing.

The 70-year-old, who has lived in Vicarage Lane for 30 years, said: “Over the past decade I’ve noticed a massive spike in the amount of cars using the bridge.

“What was once a quite village has become a victim of the hundreds of new homes in the borough.

“This beautiful bridge, which was once a battle site in the Civil War, is now a battle site for motorists.”

Mrs Morris expects the misery will worsen in June when motorists use the area to avoid the major Maidstone Bridge gyratory works and suggests the only way to solve the problem would be to install permanent two-way traffic lights to control drivers crossing the bridge.

Temporary traffic lights were installed at the railway crossing in July, after signalman Doug Caddell was seriously injured when he was hit by a car as he tried to close the gates.

The lights are in operation between 7am and 7pm and turn red to warn a train is approaching so the signaller can close the gates.

Residents believe motorists are interpreting the green signal as a right of way across the bridge.

Kent County Council said it continues to work with Network Rail to find a solution to the problem.

If you would like to sign the petition click here.