A historic route close to a popular Kent shopping area has been closed off amid fears of debris falling from a property.

Highways bosses shut Best Lane, off Canterbury High Street, to traffic towards the end of December.

Kent County Council sealed off the thoroughfare near Pizza Express to allow teams to carry out "emergency building repairs" at a home.

It is understood a crack to the front of the building is causing debris to fall onto the footpath.

A closure notice issued by the authority states: "KCC gives notice that Best Lane will be closed to through traffic on or after December 30 for up to seven days.

"The road will be closed between the junctions of Orange Lane and Best Lane.

"This is necessary for us to provide safety for the public and workforce while emergency building repairs are carried out."

Barriers currently surround the home, which is also covered in scaffolding.

Pedestrians and cyclists are still able to go through the road and traffic can access the Orange Street disabled car park from High Street.

A spokesman for STG Building Control - which works for Canterbury City Council - says the firm is investigating the issue.

"As building control, this is something which is on our radar as it was reported as a dangerous structure," he said.

"The description we have for this is as follows ‘crack to front of building causing debris to fall onto footpath’.

"Investigation and dealings with this are currently ongoing between ourselves and the owners of the property."