Frustrated residents are at their wits’ end say after constantly coming face-to-face with motorists driving the wrong way outside their homes.

People living in a small section of Walderslade Road in Walderslade, Chatham, said they are often forced to reverse into oncoming traffic because others ignore the no-turn signs.

Roy Jones, who has lived there for 40 years, says he and others have faced verbal abuse when they try to explain people are driving the wrong way.

The 75-year-old said: “It is a safety issue. It happens every week and then someone has to reverse into mainstream traffic. I come face-to-face with drivers a lot.

“I have just got fed up with it. You get people beeping and shouting at us to move when they have come in the wrong way but we live here, it is our home.

“You cannot blame everyone but some just do not care. It is convenient for them to turn around here but it is not for us.

“There needs to be clearer signs so they would know what they can and cannot do.”

On the stretch of road, near Bleakwood Drive and St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, the current restrictions are no right turn for southbound traffic and no left turn for northbound traffic.

There are signs to alert motorists, however residents say they are set too far back and hidden so often missed which leads to a lot of the issues.

Jon Fuller, 46, explained: “It is a nightmare. It happens every day, it is just chaos.

“I have been assaulted for telling people. You get nothing but verbal abuse for telling people they are using the road wrong.”

Another resident, Michael Levy, said it is worse during school times as parents use the road, and their driveways, to turn around or stop while dropping their children off, despite it being residents’ parking only.

He added: “It is frustrating. There needs to be better signs and ones that you can actually see.”

And Mr Jones fears the problem is only going to get worse when nearby Bleakwood Road becomes a School Street – meaning cameras will be installed in a bid to reduce congestion and make the streets safer for children.

The road will be shut during drop-off and pick-up time, meaning residents, parents and even school staff would be banned from driving down it unless they apply for an exemption permit.

The 75-year-old thinks this will lead to more parents using the access on Walderslade Road and without better signs installed thinks many will not realise there are restrictions.

Residents have suggested adding no-entry signs, give way lines or blocking the middle of the road so no it cannot be used as a through road.

Ward councillor for Lordswood and Walderslade, David Brake (Con), raised their concerns when he was elected for that area before the boundary reshuffle and says he has been following up a decision with Medway Council.

He added: “I am dedicated to seeing it through on their behalf. To me it is quite clear, if you do drive down the wrong way, you are breaking the law.

“If you are a resident in one of these properties, it is a real problem. This has been an ongoing issue for years.

“It would be nice if people could be a little bit more conscious that other people live in that area.

“It is such a busy junction because of all the traffic signals and crossing. It is congested with so many signs.

“It is with Medway Council and we are waiting for officers to go into consultation in that particular area. I have been told it is on the list of jobs to be done.”

The local authority is looking into further options to restrict traffic and is considering improving the signage in place.