SOUTHEND is one of the worst places in England for traffic jams.

Figures released by the Department for Transport reveal how many seconds drivers will spend at a standstill for every mile they travel on an A road.

The data for Southend shows that for every mile on one of the main roads across the area a car will be delayed by 76 seconds.

So for a daily commute of five miles a driver should add around six minutes to the journey to get to work on time.

Anyone travelling 20 miles can expect a delay of around 25 minutes.

In 2017 motorists in Southend meandered along at just 19mph on average.

And Southend's drivers are right if they get furious about traffic jams, as they are delayed more than the majority of England, where there is an average delay time of 47 seconds per mile.

The news follows the announcement that Southend could be getting a bypass to ease congestion.

Plans for the new road are being seriously considered as part of a long term strategy for Southend in 2050.

For the rest of Essex, delays are below the national average, with drivers delayed by 33 seconds for every mile.

So for a daily commute of five miles a driver should add around three minutes to the journey to get to work on time. Anyone travelling 20 miles can expect a delay of around 11 minutes.

Roads Minister, Jesse Norman, said: "Roadworks can often be frustrating for motorists, especially when they cause hold-ups at busy times and delay journeys.

"We want to reduce this disruption and delay, and Street Manager is just one of a number of actions we are taking so that local authorities and utility companies can better plan and manage their roadworks.

"The data opened up by this new digital service should enable motorists to plan their journeys better, so they can avoid works and get to their destinations more easily."

Figures released by the Department for Transport reveal how many seconds drivers will spend at a standstill for every mile they travel on an A road.