Road chiefs forced drivers to slow down on the A2 in Kent for more than a year despite no work taking place.

The Highways Agency left 50mph signs on the London-bound carriageway at Boughton Hill, near Faversham, for 13 months before work started on the embankment at the side of the road.

And the agency revealed it had the blessing of Kent Police, even though officers had no legal right to enforce the 50mph limit on the 70mph road.

The details came to light following a Freedom of Information Act request.

Highways Agency spokeswoman Gill Stevens said: "The temporary traffic regulation order expired on February 11, 2007. After this time the speed limit was advisory and not mandatory. This was verbally agreed with the police.

"I am sorry the signs were not changed to reflect this; however, no one was prosecuted for speeding through the section with the reduced speed limit."

She that even when no work was taking place there was still a safety issue on the stretch of road.

Drivers on Boughton Hill have responded to 50mph signs and signs showing that the two lanes were narrowing.

There have seen hundreds of cones along the inside lane, even though no work took place for almost a year until last month.

That work to the embankment is now going on and the stretch of road is again legally subject to a 50mph limit.

Brian MacDowall, secretary of the Kent branch of the Association of British Drivers, says the authorities should have removed the signs when no work was taking place. "For the amount of taxes we pay they should be able to have the signs there when they are required and take them down when they are not," he said.

"I’ve gone through there at well over 50mph sometimes because I know there are no roadworks, but people who don’t know the area could slow down suddenly and that could cause accidents."

PC Geoff Bineham, from Kent Police’s traffic management unit, said: "Kent Police works closely with all highways authorities to provide advice on matters relating to road traffic, including the use of traffic signs, to make the roads safer for all users."