A section of a key route was closed following a stinky spillage from a dustcart.

The shut down was on the northbound A258 between Dover and the A2 Duke of York’s roundabout.

And locals complained of the smell it gave off, which was worsened by the hot weather.

Marian Yates, who took the photograph, said on Facebook: “Absolutely disgusted.

“ Just along the bus stop and all the way down the road opposite Dover Castle down towards the petrol station is this sludge of food and God knows what, which smells.

“Needs to be cleaned up ASAP because the sun isn’t helping the stench. Incredibly disgusted.”

Karl Austen also commented on the Dover for Distruntled Dovorians page and added: “It stinks to high Heaven. There were police earlier moving traffic but it stunk badly.”

The mishap was last yesterday afternoon (Thursday).

Highways officials said that there was resulting slow traffic.

Kent Police confirmed that the cause was spillage from a dustcart at Castle Hill Road at 2.20pm.

They said the road would be closed until the debris was cleared.

This part of the A258 is the second option route between central Dover and the road to Deal.