POLICE say lessons need to be learned following some of the worst traffic jams in the history of the county show.

Those travelling to the county show at the Kent Showground in Detling faced queuing traffic on all three days, with the worst conditions experienced on Sunday.

Organisers say the surge on Sunday meant some were sat in traffic for hours and by 4pm they were letting those arriving at Detling into the show for free.

Then as thousands tried to leave the show they ran straight into traffic jams on the A249.

People living nearby said changes to traffic management arrangements had left them effectively stranded by the traffic build up.

Robin Grimble, who has lived in nearby Scragged Oak Road for 20 years, said: “In the past there’s always been a police presence and it’s been the safest weekend of they year. There was no presence this year.

“It’s the worst traffic I’ve seen here.”

He said closing off the central reservation of the A249 had meant residents on his road had been unable to turn right towards Maidstone. Instead they were faced with a nine mile journey in heavy traffic.

Neighbour Chris Everden said it was a “total disaster” but praised Detling and Thurnham Cllr John Horne (Con) for fighting to have the restriction lifted after 8pm each evening.

Ch Insp Ian Hall of Mid Kent, said: “The problems that developed were in the showground, not on the highway, when people had difficulty leaving the car parks.

“Although traffic outside was heavy, it continued to move.

“When we became aware of the problem, police officers assisted the on-site stewards in dealing with the traffic in the showground.

“We will be discussing the matter with the show organisers to look at what lessons can be learned.”