Villagers living on a rat run say they fear for their lives as cars and lorries thunder past their homes.

Stockbury Parish Council is so concerned, it has appealed for suggestions to find a legal solution to the months of motor misery.

Sarah Brunt, of Hope Farm cattery – a pet boarding venue in Chestnut Street – said: “For months, residents of Chestnut Street and Maidstone Road have been subjected to extremely high volumes of traffic being diverted from the planned closures of the A249 between Stockbury and Bobbing.

“These closures are now significantly impacting the physical and mental health of the residents.

“We can no longer get in and out of our properties. It’s not safe to walk as there are only narrow pathways, if any at all, and this is a regular route for dog-walkers, cyclists and horse owners.”

She added: “Some of the older houses with no foundations on the diversion route physically shake when lorries rattle past.

“This is the first December since 2019 we have been legally permitted to enjoy friends and family in our own homes but we will not be able to enjoy the build-up to the festive period because of the noise, danger and chaos passing our houses.”

She said there was a temporary 30mph speed limit on the roads but many motorists had been clocked at 40-50mph.

She also complained that signage warning of closures of the A249 was not always in place 14 days in advance as agreed and added that sometimes it was left in place when not needed so traffic was forced along Chestnut Street and Maidstone Road.

She added: “We acknowledge the diversion is listed on the temporary order published in October 2021 but it is important to remember the risk assessment was written in 2008 and has not been revisited in 14 years.

“Elements noted within that documentation are woefully out of date and therefore it is our suggestion that KCC is failing in its responsibility of the public and the residents.

“Residents are absolutely in support of any improvements for the area but the current A249 was opened in the 1990s more than 30 years ago as Chestnut Street and Maidstone Road could no longer cope with the level of traffic between the M2 and A2.

“If the roads were unsuitable then, they are most definitely unsuitable now given the volume of car usage has significantly increased over the past three decades.

“If the current A249 needs improvement and isn’t fit for purpose then why is it appropriate that Chestnut Street and Maidstone Road are safe to use?”

As residents braced themselves for the ninth consecutive weekend of road closures on the A249, Lucy Fogg, who also lives along Chestnut Street, said: "We are having to endure hell and are all at the end of our tethers.

"It's all very well National Highways putting out press releases saying how well the project is doing but they are ignoring the mental health damage these closures are causing villagers.

"On Saturday at 10pm we had thousands of speeding lorries diverted along our road, which is definitely not fit for that. We suffer this every single weekend."

As snow began to fall last night (Sunday) vehicles continued to use the road. Lucy said: "As the road became quieter, the lorries got quicker. To add insult to injury, the diversion route wasn't gritted."

The coastbound M2 entry and exit slip roads at junction 5 are shut and are not expected to reopen until Friday, January 13 as part of a £92m scheme to build a flyover to reduce traffic congestion between Sittingbourne and Maidstone.

The closures are also causing serious problems of rat-running along the narrow Bimbury Lane, South Street Road and Yelsted Road. One resident said: “It’s getting very scary walking my dog around the village as there are no footpaths. I have had quite a few near misses.”

Another complained: “It is absolutely ridiculous. This is an ongoing nightmare for us who live along Bimbury Lane.” Another added: “My wall was damaged last year by one of the tractors flying down the lane. I also fear for my wife and children who walk our dog. I am forever shouting at people to slow down.”

Last week, those living in country lanes near Blue Bell Hill, Chatham, said they were ''frightened'' of motorists trying to find alternative routes to avoid the A229 roadworks and travelling at "insane" speeds.

Stockbury Parish Council said in a statement: “The rat-running is now getting to be a serious problem. We have discussed the problems extensively with KCC Highways and even involved Mid Kent MP Helen Whately –Minister of State in the Department for Health and Social Care – but no one can come up with a practical, legal and safe solution.

“We would love to hear suggestions to how we might limit the number of rat-runners and reduce their speeds.”

Speed humps, speed limits and restricting the road to residents only have been ruled out.