There are calls for "urgent" improvements to a major road as it remains closed and continues to cause traffic chaos.

The A26 between the Beddingham roundabout in Lewes and Newhaven is closed both ways and a council leader has called for investment to improve the road.

Lewes District Council leader James MacCleary said: "It would be more understandable if we were talking about a small side road here, but this is a major route that carries a high volume of heavy traffic.

“Newhaven is a port and the A26 is supposed to take the heavy vehicles that come off the ferry as well as trucks and lorries going to and from the industrial estates.

“Closing it for three days (and counting) has major knock on effects for local people.”

The road has, so far, been closed for three days due to safety concerns over flooding and ice.

But no date has been announced for its reopening.

"It's not just the congestion that it has caused - which is huge - but also large vehicles travelling on unsuitable roads and travelling through villages like Kingston and Alfriston to reach the A27,” said Cllr MacCleary.

“These roads cannot handle that sort of traffic and there are reports of lorries getting stuck and damaging other vehicles squeezing down narrow roads.”

The closure has caused traffic chaos and there are knock-on effects on nearby roads.

Currentlt, there are severe delays of eight minutes on the A259 South Way westbound between Mill Drove and Bridge Street, where the average speed is 5mph.

A spokeswoman for National Highways said: “The A26 in East Sussex is closed in both directions between the A259 Newhaven and the A27 Beddingham due unsafe road conditions following adverse weather.

“National Highways contractors are on scene however ground water is running onto the road from the surrounding area causing issues with the road surface due to the freezing temperatures.

“HGVs intending to travel to the Port of Newhaven are advised to follow the signed diversion and not use Piddinghoe Road (via Iford, Southease and Piddinghoe) as this road is not appropriate for HGV traffic.”