Network Rail has suggested that delays in a busy village due to increased freight traffic on the railway could continue for another fortnight.

Residents of Aylesford have become more and more annoyed by the amount of time that the barriers at the Station Road level crossing are down for in recent weeks.

The crossing is closed more frequently due to a problem with a bridge in Lewisham, which is causing freight trains to be diverted down the Medway Valley Line, through Aylesford, and back up to London via Tonbridge.

This means that there are more trains passing through Aylesford between 6am and 9am, meaning that cars queuing for one train may not make it over the crossing before the next train approaches and the barriers lower once more.

The barriers are triggered as a train leaves Maidstone heading towards Strood, or when it leaves Snodland if heading towards Maidstone.

The barriers are generally then down for around four minutes as the train approaches Aylesford.

Unfortunately as freight trains are heavier and therefore slower, the barriers are down for a prolonged period, causing traffic to build up much more than it usually would.

And residents can't be cheered by the prospect of the problems easing any time soon, as Network Rail has reportedly suggested that the Lewisham bridge will not be functional for freight traffic until Monday, November 14.

Commenting on this matter on her Facebook page, Tracey Crouch, MP for Chatham and Aylesford, wrote: "Let's hope the timetable doesn't slip. I am not sure how much longer drivers, pedestrians and local residents can bear this chaos."