Drivers will continue to endure an 18-mile detour as the closure of the main route between Canterbury and Herne Bay is extended.

Kent County Council has revealed that carriageway repairs on Calcott Hill in Sturry, which were due to finish on Wednesday, January 11, will overrun.

Authority officials say the road will be closed between the Punch Tavern pub and Long Shaw Farm for five further days in addition to the eight days originally planned – meaning the disruption will last until Sunday, January 15.

They are urging motorists to take a huge diversion along the A299 Thanet Way, before turning off at St Nicholas-at-Wade to travel into the city while the closure is in place.

A traffic notice issued by the county council states: “The alternative route is through the A291 Canterbury Road, A299 Thanet Way, St Nicholas-at-Wade roundabout and A28.

“This is to enable us to carry out carriageway maintenance.”

Those living in Hoath previously spoke out about their fears commuters will instead cut through their historic village, transforming it into a busy rat-run after children returned to school.

“Traffic through here is an increasing problem, as people already use it to cut through all the way down to Sturry,” Hoath Parish Council chairman Imogen Morizet told KentOnline last week.

“People do not respect the speed limit, which is driving us all mad, and the roads aren’t built for heavy-duty traffic.

“I’m anticipating the roads will be flooded with even more cars, and there's the potential for accidents to happen as we're going to have people running late and getting frustrated.

“I’m going to be bombarded with messages from people venting their frustration about this, and quite rightly so."

Ms Morizet also believes “it would be useful if KCC considered blocking access” to Hoath's main stretch, Maypole Road, for the duration of the project.

The work is taking place while the county council continues its multi-million-pound improvement scheme in Bullockstone Road.

The rat-run – regularly used by those heading between the Bay and Canterbury – is shut until August, while teams equip it with a widened carriageway and two roundabouts.

Forty Acres Road in Canterbury was also shut on Wednesday for nine days to allow emergency gas main repairs to be carried out.

Herne resident Alistair Russell, who works for construction firm Ian Sayer & Co, estimated his trips into the city could be made three times as long by the closures.

"People are going to pour through Hoath or Thornden Wood Road instead of along the diversion," he explained.

"It's just another pain for everybody in Herne.

"It's going to add another 20 minutes, half an hour to journeys to Canterbury, when it would usually take me 15 minutes.

"There seems to be a lack of coordination with the highway projects, but I'm assuming it's emergency work and needs doing."

Bosses of bus operator Stagecoach stress most of its day-time routes are being sent along the official diversion.

But for school-time buses, all number 6 and some Triangle services are allowed to run through the roadworks.

"I’m anticipating the roads will be flooded with even more cars..."

“We have worked very closely with KCC to minimise disruption for people travelling by bus,” a Stagecoach spokesman said.

“We're pleased school-time services, as well as all route 6 buses and early morning and evening Triangle buses, will be permitted access to run the usual route.

“All other buses will divert using the Thanet Way."

KCC has been approached for further comment.