A cyclist was pronounced dead after apparently suffering a medical episode while riding along a busy road in the Towns.

The man, who has not been named, was found lying in the road near Brompton Barracks in Brompton shortly after 8am this morning.

Initially it was not clear if the cyclist, who had been wearing a white helmet and had blue rucksack on his back, had been hit by a car or had suffered the medical episode, but he was found lying in the road at about 8.15am.

Police closed Wood Street, while the emergency services dealt with the incident, and shut the road at its junction with Dock Road shortly afterwards.

The area remained closed for hours while investigations took place.

Police also closed Middle Street at about 8.45am and were diverting traffic coming from the Chatham direction back along Dock Road.

A police spokesman said officers were called out at 8.13am to reports a man has been seen lying on the road.

Motorist were advised to use alternative routes while the closure was in place and the road was re-opened at about 1.30pm.

Logan Enfield, who was in the area at the time, said: “I was on the scene for about and hour and it was confirmed he passed away on scene.

“They covered the body and started their investigation.”

The police spokesman confirmed officers were treating the incident as a medical episode.

A spokesman for ambulance crews, who treated the man later confirmed the man was pronounced dead at the scene.