Chicken lovers eager to get their hands on a long-awaited KFC are stopping buses getting to an estate.

Stagecoach says it is unable to get to its usual stop outside the Cineworld on Ashford's Eureka Park due to an "extremely large number of vehicles" queuing for some finger lickin' food.

The branch was previously only open for delivery - but bosses believed it was safe enough to have the drive-thru up-and-running and it is now catering for motorists.

Three other outlets in Kent - Broadstairs, Dover and Gillingham - have also reopened.

But Stagecoach says it will not be able to serve the Eureka Park estate again until next week because of the queues.

In a tweet, it said: "Due to an extremely large number of vehicles queuing for a tasty KFC we will be unable to serve Eureka Cinema until May 18 (Monday).

"Please use Thomson Road bus stops along Trinity Road. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause."

Last week, fast food chicken lovers were urged to use their common sense when the outlets reopened.

It came after dozens of drivers flocked to Broadstairs' outlet, causing a traffic jam and sparking a police call-out.

In a statement, KFC said: "We’ve been working hard to responsibly reopen our restaurants and now we’re spreading our wings a little further.

"In line with government advice, we’ve decided to open the drive-thru lanes at 55 of our UK restaurants that are already open for delivery.

"We know it’s tempting, but please, please don’t all rush at once.

"Delivery remains the best way to get your fried chicken fix - we just want to offer a little more choice to those who are already on the road for essential journeys or on their way home from difficult shifts."

Bosses say the drive-thrus, which are offering a limited menu, are following stringent new social distancing and safety procedures, including contactless handover of food and the installation of protective screens.

In March, a huge queue formed on the Eureka Park estate as residents rushed to get one last McDonald's before the Covid-19 lockdown.

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