Network Rail has spent £151,000 in nine months on operating temporary traffic lights at East Farleigh level crossing.

The figure was revealed in response to an FOI by the Kent Messenger amid discussions on how to manage the 6,840 motorists who use the medieval bridge every day.

Dual signals are changed manually day in, day out on either side of the single-track medieval bridge by two workers from Centurion Traffic Management, a private contractor hired by Network Rail in July.Staff costs are included in the £151,000 price tag.

The lights were installed three months after signalman Doug Caddell Corr suffered serious injuries when hit by a car when opening the crossing gates.

And the temporary lights are due to remain until 2017.

Last Friday MP Helen Grant, met KCC councillor John Wilson and Network Rail bosses to discuss a solution –including permanent lights.

It was agreed permanent lights to control traffic on the bridge would be unsafe and present too many technical issues.

Wig Wag signals – the warning lights often seen at level crossings – will be installed instead in the next six months.

These will be controlled by the signalman while a fully automatic barrier will not be installed until mid 2017.

Traffic calming measures on the approach to the bridge have not been ruled out.