A motorist was left in shock after the front of his car plunged into a sinkhole as he drove to work.

HGV driver Danny Cronin was heading to Gist in Oare Road when his 4x4 hit the 5ft crater, which was caused by a collapsing sewer in Brent Hill, Faversham.

The road has been shut since the incident on Tuesday, October 30, and looks set to be closed until next week while Southern Water deals with the issue.

Mr Cronin says he was left stunned after his car slid into the opening at about 4.20am.

“I thought I had run someone over,” the 58-year-old said.

“I was driving to work at Gist, and I came around the corner and I could see a man stopped and standing in the road scratching his head, so I slowed right down.

“But it was too late, I didn’t see the opening so my car went into it.

“I just thought this is unbelievable, it was huge.

“My car bumped down into it, the back of the car went up, and then the front.

“I honestly thought I’d run someone over.

“I suspected straight away that my car was an instant write-off; the tyres were ruined and the front and rear suspension had gone when I tried to reverse it out.

“I said to the other man to phone the police and I tried to put a bit of a barrier around it.

“It was full up with water so was difficult to see, and when I went to look at it later it was overflowing.

“Anyone who came up there would have just thought it was an overflowing manhole - but it is just that sinkhole.”

Although Mr Cronin, who lives in Herne Bay, did not suffer any major injuries, he says the incident has affected him.

“It was horrible, it was the shock more than anything,” he added.

“And now it’s a real inconvenience trying to sort it all out – the car, the insurance.

“They have had Southern Water there pumping out water day and night near Gist. There’s been about six or eight tankers at any time there.

“The road has been shut since, which is an inconvenience for people as well.”

Kent County Council says Southern Water has requested that the road is closed until Monday (November 12).

A Southern Water spokesman said: “We’re very sorry to hear about this particular incident. The sewer issues we experienced came as a result of a burst water main which belongs to South East Water.

“This burst water main unfortunately led to the ground becoming unstable and sewer pipe collapsing, and we immediately dispatched our specialist crew to the site.

“Following South East Water completing repairs to their water main, we carried out detailed surveys and repair works to the sewer while the road was closed, to ensure they were done as quickly and as safely as possible.

“Repairs to the sewer were completed over the weekend and work to reinstate the road is underway. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”