Major high street works are set to last three weeks after a gas main damaged a sewer.

Emergency repairs started in Tenterden High Street last week after work being carried out by a contractor for SGN accidentally caused the problem.

This damage means the pipe needs to be diverted to enable the repair, which bosses of SGN say could take three weeks.

“We’re assisting Southern Water in High Street, Tenterden, with their work to repair a sewer. During previous upgrade work by a contractor, our gas main damaged the sewer and the pipe now needs to be diverted to enable the repair,” Waseem Hanif, spokesperson for gas distribution company SGN said.

“We have urgently planned this diversion work together, in close consultation with Kent County Council (KCC).

“Our work will start on Monday, May 20 and last for approximately three weeks, at which point Southern Water will complete the sewer repairs, which is scheduled to take no longer than a day.

“We know this is a busy location and we’ll do everything we can to limit disruption and complete our work as quickly as possible.”

But Tenterden Town Mayor Sue Ferguson says major thought should have been given to how the works would impact the busy high street.

She said: “I accept that the work has to be done but when there are major roadworks thought has to be given to the logistics of how the work is managed especially when the roadworks are in the middle of a very busy High Street.

“Efficient traffic management and regular updates are crucial.”

Pictures of the high street during peak times show traffic tailbacks, which will likely continue for the next three weeks as the repairs continue.