A village is bracing itself for months of disruption after a gas company announced road closures for main replacements.

Ware Street in Bearsted, near Maidstone, is to be shut for more than two months starting from Monday, June 26.

The rolling programme of works will effect the road between its junctions with Yeoman Lane and Averenches Road.

As well as inconveniencing villagers, the closure is likely to cause much wider disruption as the road is a major link between the A249 and the A20.

The work will be carried out by SGN and is not due to be completed until September 4.

There will be two subsidiary closures to roads off Ware Street. Phase two will see Hog Hill closed for a distance of around 30 metres from its junction with Ware Street from July 24 until August 14.

While Phase three will see Thurnham Lane closed from its junction with The Street as far as the railway bridge, and also Yeoman Lane from its junction with The Street for a distance of about 30 metres. This closure will run between July 31 and August 21.

KCC said that access to Bearsted Station car park would be maintained throughout the works.