Water repair works, street light maintenance and temporary traffic lights are causing an "absolute nightmare" on a town's roads – and residents have been warned it could get worse.

Traffic chaos across Sittingbourne is being caused by the closure of Milton Road and the installation of multi-way traffic lights along Sheppey Way near Bobbing McDonald's.

Conservative councillor for The Meads, James Hunt, explained the area was gridlocked from Asda.

He said: "Milton Road, as it comes round by Sittingbourne train station, is closed and I think there's temporary traffic lights by Bobbing McDonald's.

"A lot of the traffic is having to go along the Eurolink as a result so it's causing a lot of problems out there.

"Luckily the roadworks starting on Staplehurst Road roundabout begin next week but it's all other roadworks that are taking place that's causing problems."

On Kent County Council's (KCC) website it states there are temporary traffic lights along Sheppey Way by the Bobbing roundabout.

There will be multi-way signals from today until midnight on Wednesday, January 18, due to maintenance work on street lights in the area.

KCC have been asked to comment.

Milton Road, in the town centre, has been closed by Southern Water since Friday.

It is expected to open from midnight tomorrow after utility repair and maintenance works are completed.

Cllr Hunt added: "I think first thing this morning, during rush hour, the traffic was stacking up through Staplehurst Road just because of the Milton Road being closed.

"I came through there at 10am and it took probably a good 20 minutes to get past Asda and around that way.

"I don't know whether that's emergency works or not because there was nothing on the roadworks site this morning and then when I looked again it says it's closed for a couple of days so it must have must have been an emergency one.

"I think there are going be a lot more traffic problems in the area of the next few months because the council held off town roadworks while the M2 junction five closure has been happening.

"So I think now there are suddenly going to be a whole load of roadworks as that is reopening soon."

A Southern Water spokesperson said: “We’re sorry for any disruption this has caused. There is some outstanding work being carried out on road resurfacing. This should be finished within the next few days.”

A morning commuter took to Facebook this morning so complain about the roadworks.

They said: "Absolute nightmare on the roads today.

"Milton Road is shut and traffic is backed past McDonald’s Bobbing.

"An office building was also being dropped off by the pedestrian crossing near Staplehurst Road roundabout due to the upcoming roadworks, that also blocked the road."

One mum said some pupils were late to school this morning as a result of the travel issues.

She said: "I was told lots of children were late at Grove Park today.

"It took some 25 minuets to get from the Sonora Fields estate to the school. It usually only takes 10 minutes."