Motorists have reported yet more gridlock misery after contractors stepped in to clear overgrown plants which are causing a safety risk.

Highways England has started roadworks at the junction 10 roundabout of the the M20 in Ashford today, coinciding with school half term.

But residents and motorists who rely on using the approach roads have reported that they feel like prisoners in their own home as it takes so long to get past the junction.

Ken Paine says he has to use junction 10, as it is the only way to reach his home off Barrey Road via the A2070.

He said: "There is traffic backed up on the M20 slip road. It's a disaster waiting to happen. Traffic is now queuing back to McDonald's, it's stop start traffic.

"They've done these roadworks in the middle of the day, why couldn't it be done at night?

"It's taken me half an hour to get through. I don't feel like going back out now as it will take so long, it's like being a prisoner in your own home."

Mr Paine fears the problems at the junction will be compounded when the A2070 is closed between Kennington and Willesborough for road widening works in June.

Meanwhile motorist Joe Elgar it took him 20 minutes to get out of the Tesco car park, and saw ambulances were struggling to get through the traffic. A regular 10 minute journey to Godinton Park took him 45 minutes.

The roundabout has become notorious for problems, earlier this month motorists faced long delays after the traffic lights failed.

The work is set to finish later this week, but Highways England press officer Valerie Amar-Matthews said workmen no longer need to block any lanes of the roundabout itself.

She added: “We have had to carry out some vegetation clearance for safety reasons as it was starting to affect some of the visibility along different sections of the A2070 on the approach to M20.”