In the last 18 months, a two-mile stretch of the A264 linking Pembury and Tunbridge Wells has been the scene of 37 separate sets of roadworks, according to the Automobile Association (AA).

Archie Norman, Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells, said he was not surprised by the motoring organisation's findings.

"I was quite aware because I must have spent about 37 days sitting on it.

Progressively worse

"A lot of the roads round Tunbridge Wells have been dug up time and time again.

"This is part of the problem, that utilities and cable companies and so on have the right to dig up roads and there isn't sufficient government co-ordination of that process."

Local businessman Brian Fisher said the roadworks could cause real problems for firms in the area.

He said: "It's got progressively worse over the last 38 years I've been in business.

"Again, we've got another re-enactment of the Battle of the Somme appearing, which it does at least once a month somewhere or other."