Motorists' traffic nightmare on Sheppey could be about to end.

For the past two days, drivers heading for Sheerness have been forced to divert through Halfway.

The extra vehicles have caused chaos on Island road and led to a gridlock.

But this afternoon, Southern Water, which closed off Marine Parade on Monday to install a new main, announced the road was to be reopened at 4pm.

A spokesman said: "We have been working to install a new connection to our network in Sheerness which unfortunately meant closing Marine Parade to traffic for two days.

"This was necessary to ensure our crews could work safely and without fear of injury.

"We reopened half the road yesterday afternoon to let school buses through but we needed to close it again today to ensure we could finish the job on time.

"The connection is now complete and Marine Parade will fully reopen later this afternoon before rush hour."

The news did not come soon enough for retired vicar the Rev Colin Johnson.

He spent 20 minutes stuck in traffic this afternoon trying to get from Sheerness to his home in Minster less than three miles away.

He said: "I was trapped in traffic. It has been mayhem. The traffic was at a standstill.

"I wonder whether the people who make decisions like this live on the same planet. They might as well be from Mars, The whole Island has been gridlocked."

It is not the first time the Island has ground to a halt.

There are three roads leading to Sheerness but if one is closed for any length of time huge queues build up, usually at Halfway traffic lights.

Resident Ray Ballard said: "The past two days have proved the Island's infrastructure just can't cope."

Motorists heading to Sheerness were turned back at the White House restaurant at the junction of the coast road and Minster Broadway.

Those trying to reach Minster from Sheerness discovered a diversion outside the Royal Hotel in Sheerness Broadway.