ENGINEERS are trying to trace a fault in the lifting mechanism of the Kingsferry Bridge between Sheppey and Sittingbourne after days of traffic chaos and misery.

The problems began last Thursday afternoon when it took bridge operators 20 minutes to lower the bridge, which carries road and rail links, after it had been raised to let shipping pass.

Two trains were cancelled and motorists travelling to and from the island faced two -hour traffic jams which were compounded by a road accident near Cowstead Corner on Sheppey involving a car and motorcyclist.

A Railtrack spokeswoman, who apologised for the delays, said that engineers were investigating the intermittent fault.

Two other liftings that afternoon went smoothly, but on Friday evening the bridge got stuck again, delaying commuters for an hour, and it happened again on Tuesday morning.

Sheppey's MP Derek Wyatt, who has met Medway Ports Authority and Railtrack representatives, is pressing for the Highways Agency and Railtrack to pay for liquid crystal display boards at Cowstead Corner and on the Iwade side of the bridge.

Lifting times could be displayed in advance and also broadcast with traffic news.