Two cars were damaged and a busy road was shut for nearly two hours after a tree fell on the road.

Cars and buses were halted on Sutton Road, Maidstone, as a tree lay across both sides.

Broken branches were scattered in the road, near Wallis Avenue and Morrison's supermarket, while drivers and members of the public tried to move it.

An Arriva bus, lorry and multiple cars were pictured stuck in traffic while it was dealt with by police and the fire service.

Anne Thornhill, who lives nearby, said: "I was indoors and had heard a loud cracking sound but thought it was a fence panel that I had already propped up once in my garden that had fallen down again.

"Loud noises from that junction are commonplace with all the car crashes that happen there."

Police were called after the tree fell down at around 2.30pm and shut the road until 4.10pm.

'I was indoors and heard a loud cracking sound...'

It comes after the Met Office warned of windy conditions.

A spokesman said: "There will be blustery wintry showers for many through the day, with hail, sleet and further brief snow in places.

"Showers could merge to give longer spells of sleet or snow. It will be cold with a strong wind, particularly along the Dover Strait. The maximum temperature will be 8C."

A police spokesman confirmed: "Kent Police was called at 2.30pm to a fallen tree in Sutton Road, Maidstone.

"Officers, Kent Fire and Rescue Service and council contractors attended the scene where two cars had suffered damage and no injuries were reported.

"The road was closed while the tree was removed form the carriageway and reopened at 4.10pm."

Meanwhile, another tree came down in Chartham, near Canterbury, this afternoon, blocking Cockering Road in both directions from Rattington Street to Milton Manor Road.