Drivers in East Sussex are twice as likely to find themselves stuck in traffic jams than

anywhere else in the UK, figures have revealed.

And motorists in Brighton and Hove are seven times as likely.

Performance indicators for East Sussex County Council show that on average there are more roadworks in the area than elsewhere in Britain.

The average figure for the UK is 1.41 for the number of days major council roadworks were in place per mile of busy road.

But in East Sussex the estimated figure for this financial year is 3.48 days and for Brighton and Hove the figure soars to 6.7 days.

A county council spokesman said: "The definition of a busy road only covers three per cent of our road network.

"It is based on things like the number of heavy goods vehicles that use the road and the road width.

"In a way these figures could be viewed as a success because the roadworks indicate we are trying to maintain these areas.

"

The more successful the authority is in obtaining money from central government, then the higher the figure will appear because there will be more road safety schemes and road maintenance."

A Brighton and Hove Council spokeswoman said it was unfair to compare the two councils' figures.

She said: "Our figures are measured in a different way and the area is a lot more urban and

built-up, so it's difficult to compare.There are many traffic schemes in place, including traffic calming, school safety schemes and zebra crossings.

"Money has to be spent maintaining the roads, which means roadworks."

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