The man brought in to sort out the county's roads has quit his role after just six weeks because of ill health.

Kent County Council recruited John Hobbs from Worcestershire County Council in October to act as interim highways director after the unexpected departure of highways and regeneration director Adam Wilkinson.

He quit for personal reasons after a year in the post.

Now Mr Hobbs - who KCC had hoped would oversee a transformation of its highways directorate - has had to stand aside from a job due to become full-time after initially starting as a two day a week post.

Cllr Keith Ferrin (Con), KCC’s cabinet member for the environment and highways, said: "Unfortunately, due to ill health, John Hobbs has been unable to continue his role with Kent Highway Services.

"We obviously wish John well and are sorry we won’t be able to work with him and benefit from his experience."

The agreement with Worcestshire county council had sparked some concerns among the opposition parties at County Hall, who questioned whether a director shared with another council could do all that was needed to improve Kent’s roads.

But at the time, KCC said Mr Hobbs’ track record meant he was the right man to "take the transformation of highways to the next stage".

As part of the agreement allowing Mr Hobbs to work in Kent, KCC had agreed to help Worcestershire improve with its waste management.