Motorists trying to get to Sittingbourne or Maidstone from the Isle of Sheppey have been hit by delays of up to 45 minutes as engineers carry out emergency roadworks on the A249.

The Maidstone-bound carriageway at Bobbing was closed since 6.30am this morning after a long stretch of its surface was ripped off during heavy rain and reopened at 2.30pm.

Retired priest Father Colin Johnson from Minster Road, Minster, said: "It has been horrendous. I took 45 minutes to get to Sittingbourne today.

"Traffic is queuing back to the Iwade turn-off."

He said "To make matters worse, there is no advance warning apart from a sign saying there are roadworks ahead.

"If there was a sign saying the road ahead was closed then drivers could get off at the Grovehurst roundabout and use a back way into Sittingbourne."

He added: "I really don't understand why these repairs couldn't be done at night. This is a very busy road.

"It demonstrates yet again the total contempt with which motorists are regarded – particularly it would seem, motorists on the Isle of Sheppey.

"Remember the fiasco at the Lower Road junction with Barton Hill Drive a couple of weeks ago?"

Car-carriers serving Sheerness docks and lorries from Morrisons' supermarket depot were also been caught up in the delays.

Highways England had warned that work would not be completed until at least 6pm but announced at 2.30pm that repairs had finished.

A spokesman said: "Resurfacing has been completed on the A249 southbound, near Bobbing between B2006 and A2 following an earlier collision.

"We are in the process of re-opening the road. Delays on approach, currently adding approximately 20 minutes to journey time."

Some drivers diverted along the Lower Rainham Road to bypass the jams to get to the Medway Towns.

Live traffic information is available on the Highways England website and mobile app. Updates are broadcast on Kent radio station KMFM.