A major road is to shut for a week so a controversial 5G mast can be built.

Sheppey Way, which connects Sittingbourne to the Isle of Sheppey, is to close for five nights.

Telecoms giants Three is carrying out the work to build the new structure, which will be erected opposite the Brookfields housing estate in Iwade.

It means the route will be closed between the junctions of Peach Blossom Drive and Monins Road from Monday (January 8) until next Friday (January 12) between 8pm and 6am.

The alternative route for traffic is via Grovehurst Road, Saffron Way, Mill Way, King Street, St Paul's Street, B2006 Staplehurst Road, Bobbing Interchange and Sheppey Way.

Pedestrian access will be maintained during the works.

An application for the 15-metre high 5G mast was given the green light in August after prior approval was not deemed to be required by Swale council.

A spokesman for Three said: "5G rollout is vital for residents and businesses of Sittingbourne.

"We want to offer the community a reliable network experience and this new site will be critical to making that happen.

“While we try to keep mast sites as unobtrusive as possible, they need to be situated where people will be using the service and, in many cases, in precise locations to ensure the widest breadth of coverage.”

The mast will still require further work before it is active.

It comes after multiple people described Iwade as being in the “dark ages” in terms of basic amenities.

Residents say frequent power cuts, poor phone signal and water leaks have been the norm for several months.

The population of the village has also quadrupled during the past 20 years, and work ongoing on its latest development, Orchard Meadows, will see 60 homes built in Sheppey Way.

The 5G mast is therefore hoped to solve some of the village's signal issues.

Speaking in the summer, one resident of Pintail Drive told KentOnline he had to make phone calls by hanging out of a window.

Meanwhile, Nutmeg Crescent's Claire Gallagher compared the infrastructure in Iwade to “living in the dark ages”.

Cllr Roger Clark, who lives in Peach Blossom Drive and represents Iwade on Swale council, said the phone mast is “needed”.

The Tory representative for Bobbing, Iwade and Lower Halstow explained: “Making a phone call can be a matter of life and death for those people who have major health issues.

“It’s important that this is built.”

However, plans for the mast have not been welcomed by everyone.

Nicola Louden, of Cormorant Road, said the structure's design was “outrageous” and that “no one in the village should have to live with this monstrosity”.

The topic of 5G masts has been controversial for some time.

While many believe their existence will lead to better connectivity, many anti-mast campaigners remain sceptical and allege they cause health problems.

The government insists there is no evidence they pose a danger.