Kent MPs have condemned the 'woeful performance' of Southeastern rail service at a debate in Westminster Hall today.

Long delays, disruption and lacklustre customer service were among the issues raised by MPs addressing Claire Perry, the government's rail minister.

Among those present were Helen Whately, MP for Faversham and Mid Kent and Tonbridge and Malling MP Tom Tugendhat (Con), who launched into a cutting attack on the beleaguered rail operator which he left customers facing delays on one out of five trains.

He said: "I stand here as the representative of two communities. One that is reliant and tortured by the Tonbridge line and one that is tortured by the Maidstone East line.

"On their behalf I am here to voice my displeasure at Southeastern's woeful performance- not just in the last three months, which let's face it have been particularly awful, but over the last 10 months since I have been their representative and indeed for many years before that."

Mr Tugendhat added that in a meeting with Southeastern this week he had been told the firm believed it was still meeting the targets of its franchise- the terms by which the company runs the service.

He added: "If that is true then what it tells me is very simple: that the franchise targets are wrong."

Helen Whately added that she was now dealing with daily complaints rising numbers of complaints to her from angry customers feeling the impact of disruption on their work and family lives at East Maidstone and Headcorn and Faversham lines, while rail bosses were unable to say how the service will be improved.

She said: "All the things people build their lives around are being affected seriously by the problems with the train service.

"It is also bizarre Southeastern tell us they are compliant with their franchise. That suggests something simply isn't right with the way they are held to account."

Responding to MPs rail minister Claire Perry said Southeastern are under 'immense pressure' dealing with a multi-million pound revamp of London Bridge, while £5 million of investment in other stations had resulted in improved customer satisfaction.

She said: "I think none of us are satisfied with the performance of this franchise. The question for members is anyone out there run it better able to run it better. The answer in my considered judgement is no."

So far almost 17,000 people have signed a petition calling on the government to strip Southeastern of the rail franchise.

The results of a survey of rail passengers also revealed Southeastern was the worst performing rail operator in the UK alongside Thameslink & Great Northern with just 46% of customers saying they were happy with the service they had received.

The franchise comes to an end in June 2018.