A person has died in a serious crash that closed a busy road this morning.

The A252 Canterbury Road has been shut between Faversham Road, Charing, and Green Lane, Challock, since just before 7am.

The incident involved two vehicles.

Tragically, despite the best efforts of emergency services, a person died at the scene.

The route is used by villagers heading towards Ashford, Canterbury and Faversham, with drivers being warned to expect delays while accident investigation work is carried out.

A spokesperson for South East Coast Ambulance Service said: “SECAmb were called shortly after 7am this morning to reports of a road traffic collision near Charing Hill in Ashford.

“Sadly, despite the efforts of all those involved, the person died at the scene.”

A Kent Police spokesperson said earlier today: “Kent Police is attending a serious collision involving two vehicles on the A252 Canterbury Road, in Challock near Ashford.

“Officers were called to the scene near Monkery Lane at 6.52am.

“The road currently remains closed while emergency services respond to the collision.”

The road has remained closed into the evening, and police have now issued an appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage.

A statement said: “A trailer being pulled by a white Iveco flatbed van travelling towards Charing, is reported to have become detached and was then involved in a collision with a blue Ford Transit van being driven in the opposite direction.

“Emergency services attended and the driver of the Ford Transit, a man in his 50s, was confirmed deceased at the scene.

“Officers from Kent Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) are appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision or saw the vehicles beforehand to call the SCIU witness appeal line on 01622 798538 or email sciu.td@kent.police.uk quoting HW/CF/35/24. Dashcam footage can also be submitted here.”

The person’s next of kin have been informed.