KENT county councillors have vowed to keep up the fight to restore Eurostar services from Ashford, saying it will be absurd if travellers are forced to drive directly past the station to catch trains from Ebbsfleet in north Kent.

The county Council said its efforts to persuade Eurostar to rethink its planned cutbacks from Ashford would go on.

Councillors say there must be a more even split between the number of trains running from the two stations and have suggested Ebbsfleet faces massive congestion while vital roadworks take place.

Conservative council leader Paul Carter said at a meeting of KCC’s cabinet that it would be "outrageous" if there was no direct service to Brussels from Ashford.

He added there was a question mark over whether the roads around Ebbsfleet would be able to cope with the additional traffic generated by rail passengers.

"Eurostar has put forward proposals that may not be deliverable. We want the company to maintain profitability but also to maintain opportunities for economic growth," he said.

But he warned it would be wrong to be too negative about the prospects of the rail link transforming the fortunes of many economic blackspots.

Opposition KCC Labour deputy leader Derek Smyth, who represents Ashford, told the meeting axing the Brussels service was unacceptable.

"The whole rationale of having two international stations in Kent is to evenly distribute transport movements over the whole county," he said.

Meanwhile, Cllr Keith Ferrin, cabinet member for highways, said Eurostar may have under-estimated the possible impact that long-running road works to widen the A2 would have on congestion around the area.

The road-widening scheme is scheduled to begin next summer about the time Ebbsfleet opens it doors for business and last two years.

Cllr Ferrin said: "The A2 widening will cause huge problems for people using it. I fully expect both Dartford and Gravesham to face increased congestion as a result."