Bosses say they cannot predict how long “complex” repair work will take to mend a collapsed sewer just days after a pothole was patched up on the same stretch.

The dip, which appeared in Sandgate High Street last week, was originally repaired by Kent Highways staff.

But at about 5pm on May 8, residents noticed the road had began to sag again.

The section of carriageway outside the former Riviera Car Sales building was cordoned off but more than a week later, there is no end in sight for the repairs being undertaken.

The exact cause of the sewer issue now being repaired by Southern Water has not been fully established.

Parish council chairman and district ward councillor Tim Prater (Lib Dem), who lives on the high street, said everyone wants to see the road fixed and open as soon as possible.

"However simply looking at the hole on-site, you can see the problem at the bottom of the hole they've excavated,” he told KentOnline.

“The way the shingle is still moving is much too fluid and isn't normal and suggests a bigger problem further down: probably a deep foul sewer.

“I hope Southern Water attend, test and repair as soon as possible, but I'd guess that is going to take more than a day or two - we could be stuck with temporary traffic lights for a few more days yet.”

Posting on Facebook, he added: “So what's happening in the hole? Plenty.

“What started as a subsiding pothole in Sandgate High Street has turned into an all-out excavation to find and fix a leak on a foul sewer at least 4m down under the road by Southern Water.

“Southern Water project it'll take around another nine days, and when you look at what they are doing you can see why: digging that far down in shingle is HARD. Let's hope it goes as smoothly as it can, but I don't envy them this job.”

When asked how long the repairs could take, Southern Water bosses said they were not able to say, adding they would be working to get the road back open “as soon as possible”.

“The 450mm combined sewer runs in the middle of the road,” they said.

“Two-way lights are currently in place as traffic control and so the work can be carried out safely.

“After initial investigations, it is thought that the sewer has collapsed. The depth of the sewer is 4.5m and the repair work is complex.

“Our teams will work as quickly as they can to complete the work as soon as possible.”

KCC declined to comment on the works.