Signs at Brenley Corner on Monday morning tell motorists the Thanet Way is shut between Faversham and Whitstable. Picture: Chris Davey.

The Thanet Way between Faversham and Whitstable could fully reopen on Tuesday afternoon following an oil spillage at the weekend.

A small stretch of the coastbound carriageway from Brenley Corner to Goodnestone remains closed while specialist equipment cleans the road.

The spillage stretches more than 1,000 metres along the carriageway to the Fostall slip road and tests are still being carried out to determine the severity of the spillage.

On Monday, motorists faced delays and diversions as the coastbound carriageway was shut on police advice, between Brenley Corner and Whitstable.

Initial reports suggested a newly-laid road surface had started to wash away in heavy rain. As many as six accidents were reported on the 7-mile stretch.

Police were called shortly before 11pm on Sunday night to two separate road traffic collisions on the coastbound carriageway near Faversham.

The first collision involved two cars, a Renault and a Citroen. Nobody was injured.

The second collision involved a Ford Ka. No other vehicles were involved and nobody was injured.

Kent Fire and Rescue Services were already at the scene attending a broken down car with smoke reported to be coming from the engine compartment.

Kent Highways Services spokesman Phil Scrivener stressed the clean-up operation was well advanced on Monday night.

He said: Tests are being carried out to determine the full extent and severity of the spillage."

"At the same time specialist equipment is being brought in to clean the surface. This will allow a local diversion using the slip road to operate by the morning rush hour on Tuesday.

"The cleaning process will continue throughout the day with aim of the road being fully open on Wednesday morning."

Have you been caught up in the problems? Leave a comment on this story or emailkentishgazette@thekmgroup.co.uk