The main road into Chartham has been closed for several weeks following an incident in which a Range Rover smashed through level crossing gates.

Only the quick thinking of the gate keeper narrowly averted disaster after he alerted the train driver seconds before the approaching Cannon Street to Ramsgate service was due to arrive.

It happened last Friday night and Network Rail has now commended the worker for his speedy reactions. Bit it has also revealed the busy crossing – the main access to the village from the A28 – will be closed until mid-July.

Spokesman Chris Denham said: "Our quick-thinking crossing keeper took action as soon as he saw the incident. Without that, we could have faced a far more serious accident."

The Range Rover – was abandoned in Station Road after colliding with the crossing and a parked car as it sped towards the A28 at about 7.45pm.

A Cannon Street to Ramsgate service was due to pull into the village station seconds later, with the crossing gates closed just moments before.

Debris from the wreckage was left strewn on the road and tracks, with trains delayed as Network Rail cleared up.

But the lengthy closure of the crossing is expected to significantly inconvenience villagers in the coming weeks.

Parish council chairman Carol Manning said: "Obviously, this is going to be a disruption to Chartham and there is an issue for disabled people who use the bus service.

"The bus shelter by the station is disabled-friendly and now wheelchairs and mobility scooters will be unable to board buses into Canterbury.

"It will also affect school children, HGV deliveries to the paper mill, the GP surgery and commuters.

"There is nothing we can do but wait, because the new gates have to be specially engineered.

"But we will cope, as Chartham does in unexpected situations."

Mr Denham says the signals and traffic lights on the tracks can only be cleared to green when the gates are locked into position.

He said: "Without the proper gates, there is no link with the signals and we would not have that vital safety feature that kept people safe on Friday night. For that reason, we have had to close the crossing.

"This type of crossing is becoming rare and the metal gates, which in this case are thought to be more than 30 years old, are all bespoke.

"They were damaged beyond repair and we are working with suppliers to get a new pair made as soon as possible.

"We plan to install them on a series of midweek nights and hope to have the road open again by mid-July. If we can do it sooner, then we will.

"We recognise how important it is to the people of Chartham to get their road open and we will do everything we can to make that happen. In the meantime, we are grateful for their patience and to our crossing keeper for ensuring everyone was safe."