Drivers are facing bank hell-iday traffic chaos as The Argus today reveals that more than 20 routes in Brighton and Hove will be obstructed by roadworks.

With forecasters predicting better weather and temperatures rising to 15C (61F) over the weekend, seaside resorts in Sussex are set to be packed.

Hundreds of thousands of cars are expected on Sussex roads with an estimated 100,000 people heading for Brighton and Hove over four days.

But travellers' patience is likely to reach breaking point, with drivers facing long jams and roadworks causing gridlock on major routes.

About 262,000 passengers will leave from Gatwick, further exacerbating traffic problems on the A23.

Brighton and Hove City Council has promised to suspend work throughout the city to aid holiday motorists.

But barriers and cones will remain in place at 20 sites, including London Road, the main route into Brighton.

Other major routes around the city which will have roadworks of varying size and inconvenience include New Road, New England Road, South Street, Margaret Street, Old Shoreham Road at the junction of Fonthill Road, Palmeira Square and Adelaide Crescent, Middle Street, Oxford Street and Carden Avenue.

A council spokesman said: "All roadworks in the city will be suspended over the Easter period, with work restarting on Tuesday. The council will be also be making efforts to ensure traffic flows smoothly by reopening lanes and moving roadworks out of the way. The council does co-ordinate roadworks to ensure planned work is carried out at the same time.

"The highways management team has regular meetings with the utility companies - gas, electricity and water - and the other departments of the council to co-ordinate work.

"We also take care to avoid, where we possibly can, major events such as the Brighton Festival, and the conference season so that the effects on businesses are minimised."

But traders were last night predicting that traffic chaos could permanently damage the city's reputation.

Jeremy Hoye, who runs the Jeremy Hoye designer jewellers in Ship Street, Brighton, said: "I have been sitting in traffic over the past month watching them open up the road in West Street and then close it and move the works. It takes me an hour to get along the seafront from Hove to Roedean. It's going to be absolute chaos this weekend. People who come into the city won't come back."