Kent's road network could be plunged into chaos if the government fails to strike a deal over customs checks ahead of Brexit.

The warning has come from the Conservative politician responsible for the county's roads.

It follows the prediction from Jon Thompson, Permanent Secretary of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), there could be a French version of Operation Stack in 2019 unless customs checks on both sides of the channel are resolved before the Brexit date.

Cllr Matthew Balfour, KCC cabinet member for highways, said he was "terribly nervous" that the preparations for Brexit were moving too slowly.

He said there appeared to be no joint strategy between government departments to deal with the transport issues in Kent that Brexit could trigger.

A key concern is that post-Brexit, HGVs who are travelling to and from Europe do not undergo individual customs checks and that if such checks were needed, they would take 22 minutes.

Cllr Balfour said: “If it [Brexit] does all happen on March 31, the whole thing could be heading for chaos.

"Someone has to give some clear guidance and clarity about what is going to happen and when."

If there were going to be border checks in France, there was a question over where HGVs on the UK side of the channel were going to end up, he added.

“Where are you going to put the lorries?”

He had been told key government departments were working jointly to address Brexit-related issues but had not seen any direct evidence they were.

At a cross party select committee hearing last week, Mr Thompson told the Dover MP Charlie Elphicke so far as the HRMC was concerned, Brexit created no additional infrastructure issues.

However, he did not know whether other government departments had considered what action might be needed or if the National Infrastructure Commission was involved.

“If Brexit does all happen the whole thing could be heading for chaos" - Cllr Matthew Balfour

“Our own view is that no additional infrastructure is required for customs purposes... it is perfectly possible that other government departments need new additional infrastructure.”

Hauliers said it was vital whatever arrangements were made over customs checks, they should not delay journeys.

Rod McKenzie, of the Road Haulage Association, said: "If we don't get this right, people will see empty supermarket shelves and huge traffic jams around the ports.”

"The ideal scenario for us would be a transitional arrangement that looks and feels the same as the customs arrangements we have now and we are looking to ministers to deliver that in the forthcoming negotiations".

A National Infrastructure Commission spokesman said: "The ports at Dover are a key part of our national infrastructure and so as Brexit negotiations progress we will consider their needs as part of our wider work examining the country's future infrastructure requirements."