Rush-hour traffic was brought to a standstill by temporary roadworks this morning.

A long tailback was reported on the A27 at Selmeston, near Charleston Farm, as vehicles queued to pass temporary traffic lights.

The delays are being caused by work to widen the road, which will form the first stretch of the Polegate bypass.

The Highways Agency expects to open the new bypass in 2002.

A Polegate traffic police spokeswoman said: "It'svery busy there anyway at this time of day, and the problem is made worse by the roadworks."