Drivers are facing "absolute mayhem" at a controversial new junction as traffic lights have failed four times in as many months.

Contractors spent more than a year ripping out a roundabout on A2070 Bad Munstereifel Road in Ashford and replacing it with a four-way signal-controlled system.

But angry motorists say it is “lucky nobody has been killed” at the Orbital Park junction as the lights have failed at least four times between May and August.

The plan – called 'Bellamy Gurner' – was seen as a way of improving traffic flow in the area and improving access for those living on the Finberry housing estate.

But Willesborough resident Ben Cooper says he can't understand why bosses removed the "perfectly working roundabout".

"It’s been absolute mayhem and really confusing," he said.

"The junction makes it easier for lorries to turn out of the truckstop, I understand that, but I've been through them three times now when they've failed, and it's dangerous and causes chaos every time.

“If you come out of Orbital Park and turn right towards Park Farm, you're trying to cross three or four lanes of live traffic with no traffic lights to control them.

“There were no accidents, but I feel we are waiting for one to happen and it's going to be nasty if it does."

Residents living in the area say the lights have failed on May 8, June 21, July 19 and August 2.

The signals have been in place since last spring - a year after work first began on the scheme.

Contractor FM Conway installed the lights on behalf of Finberry housebuilder Crest Nicholson.

The new system allows Finberry residents to turn right onto the A2070 for the first time, but numerous lane closures caused huge tailbacks while work was carried out.

Cllr Paul Bartlett (Con), who represents Mersham and Sevington South with Finberry, says bosses at National Highways, the body responsible for managing the country’s key roads, need to get on top of the problem.

“It's clearly a lack of attention to detail,” he added.

“They [National Highways] have been really lucky in not having a major accident but none of this reflects well on them.

“Clearly they have been fixed and it's fine for a bit, but one wonders whether there is a fundamental problem with the system for it to get wrong four times in so many months.

“It just seems coincidental and I don't believe in coincidences.

“They weren't prepared to share the reason why it has happened with me.”

Cllr Bartlett, a former leader of Ashford Borough Council, says he “worries it could only be a matter of time until there's another accident”.

“It's a 40mph limit but because it's a long straight road with traffic lights not working, people do drive excessively fast,” he added.

“They have promised me that they're reviewing the system.

“I am confident they will fix it, because it's clearly unsatisfactory that it continues.”

A National Highways spokesman said the traffic lights “have been delivered as part of a third party project that has not yet been handed over to National Highways”.

“We are aware of several recent issues, which were resolved by the contractor,” they added.

A Crest Nicholson spokesman said: “We were previously made aware of an issue with the traffic lights and arranged with the contractor to have this fixed on the same day.

“We are not aware of any further issues since this was rectified.

“The contractor is undertaking final works to the junction ahead of entering a 12-month maintenance period and subsequently handing over to National Highways.”