Fed-up motorists were left fuming when a set of temporary traffic lights brought a town to a standstill today.

Hundreds of cars ended up in jams as their drivers tried to get into Sheerness.

The lights at roadworks in the High Street near the canal - one of the main routes into the seaside town - were stuck on red both ways.

Mark Jones who runs the town's RSPCA charity shop complained: "I was left waiting 30 minutes to get to work. Drivers were so frustrated they started jumping the lights and then met other cars coming the other way.

"It was an accident waiting to happen. It is bad enough having roadworks there anyway but the lights breaking down was the limit. Enough is enough."

He added angrily: "To make matters worse, there was no one working there."

The road has been dug up since July 17 for gas main repairs. That work is expected to be completed by the end of the week.

But the bad news for motorists is that the traffic lights will remain while water mains are replaced. That is estimated to take until next Thursday, August 31.