A village is to have 1km of water main renewed to secure access to safe drinking water in the face of continued house building.

South East Water will renew a large stretch of pipe in Tilden Road, Headcorn, to help meet the increased demand for drinking water in the area.

Project manager Jeremy Dufour said: “These vital works have been planned in order to support increased demand in the area.”

The work means residents and motorists will face a lengthy period of road closure.

Tilden Road will be shut between the Tattlebury Lane and Ulcombe Road junction, up to Little Poplar Farm, from Monday, September 9, for months.

Mr Dufour said: “We understand that closing a road can be very disruptive.

“However, this approach will help speed up the progress of the scheme.”

Businesses and residents will still be able to access Tilden Road but there will be no access for through traffic.

A diversion route will be signposted.

The work is expected to cost South East Water £700,000.

Residents can follow the progress of the scheme here.

Headcorn is considered to be a “Rural Service Centre” in Maidstone’s Local Plan .

It was marked down for an additional 110 homes, on top of those already scheduled, by 2038 in the recently adopted Local Plan Review.