A fallen tree blocked the A2 at Hartlip near Sittingbourne for about seven hours.

Drivers were advised to avoid the area after the road had to be shut at about 1pm.

Kent County Council's highways department tweeted to say tree surgeons were called.

UK Power Networks' engineers were also sent.

A police spokesman said: "Police were called at 1pm on Wednesday, January 29 to reports of a fallen tree on the A2 at Hartlip.

"Officers attended alongside engineers from UK Power Networks where a tree and a lamp post were blocking the road.

"The road was closed while both were removed. It reopened at around 8pm."

People were not impressed with how long it took to clear the tree.

Clare Jane tweeted: "It took way too long got tree surgeons to arrive. Locals would have had that tree cleared in an hour."

And Gary Blythe, responding to Kent Highways, said: "Why didn't one of your staff members deal with this? A simple strap and a 4x4 would have cleared this in no time.

"It caused chaos on the surrounding roads. If I had known I would have taken a chainsaw there myself."

A KCC spokesman said the tree was reported at about 1.50pm and its staff were there by 2.15pm.

He explained that the delay in clearing the debris had been caused by the fact a street light and some phone cables had also been damaged, so the power had to be isolated.

"It was not a simple case of chopping up a tree and taking it off the road," he added.

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