A main road linking Canterbury and Herne Bay was shut in both directions for more than five hours following a fatal crash this afternoon.

It happened on the A291 Canterbury Road near Herne Common at the Bullockstone Road turn-off towards Greenhill.

The road was shut at about 2.45pm, and did not reopen until just before 8pm.

It appears that a vehicle has crashed through a fence beside the road.

Police at the scene were earlier telling drivers someone has died in the crash, before diverting them along other routes.

The road was closed between the junctions with Curtis Wood Road and Busheyfields Road.

No other vehicles are said to have been involved in the accident.

Local driving instructor Kevin Hackman helped stop traffic approaching the crash by parking his car across the carriageway.

He said: “The police have stopped all traffic leading towards the accident now and I am helping to stop the cars and directing them.

"I haven't seen the accident but I think it must be very serious as the road has been closed for quite some time now.

"It is an accident black-spot and there has been a number of accidents there over the years."

A police spokesman said the road would close for a considerable time "to allow for investigation".

In 2015, it was rated among the most dangerous roads in Britain by the Road Safety Foundation following 19 serious or fatal crashes in seven years.

A tree is reported to have fallen into the road in the high winds earlier in the day, but was later cleared.