Residents have been facing mountains of mud on their roads caused by builders.

Complaints came into Swale council last week after motorists and pedestrians found themselves trying to dodge dirt shed from lorries in Rushenden Road and Thomsett Way.

The trucks have been working on the Keepmoat and Walsh building sites on the former Klondyke industrial estate.

Cllr Cameron Beart, who represents Queenborough, alerted the authorities and officers paid contractors a visit on Friday.

They discovered both contractors were paying Coinford sweepers to clean the roads on the same days - Tuesday and Thursday afternoons - which had now been altered to ensure they’re treated four days a week.

Cllr Beart said: “Keepmoat will start installing an access road from Monday with a cattle grid to allow excess mud to be jet-washed off lorries more easily. These works are expected to alleviate a lot of the mud problems.”

Officers also found lorries emerging from the second phase of the 1,000-home development operated by Walsh had been dropping mud on the road.

Cllr Beart said both contractors were paying for sweepers on the same two days of the week and Walsh had now been asked to change its days so the roads would be cleaned at least four days a week.

According to regulations, no vehicles should drive onto mud on a building site. Access roads and wheel-washes should be installed and materials only driven across mud by plant based on site.

Complaints to Swale’s planning enforcement team must now be logged with Maidstone and can take “several days” to be processed, said Cllr Beart.

Swale council said Cllr Beart’s complaint was the “first and only” complaint, although resident Christine Mosses said she had complained to Kent Highways.

She said: “The mud is so bad it is like driving down a farm track.”

Ashley Sheil lodged a complaint on Wednesday. He said: “This is becoming a danger to the public.

"There is mud and rocks all over the road and site staff are parking on the path making pedestrians walk in the road.”