The chief executive at one of Kent's favourite tourist attractions has told how a prolonged road closure has "detrimentally" affected business.

Helen Bonser-Wilton, who has run Leeds Castle since March 2021, said the laying of new water pipes coincided with the charity's busiest summer tourist period.

South East Water (SEW) shut the B2163 Upper Street in Leeds on July 24 for a £460,000 project to replace 535 metres of old and burst-prone piping.

The decision to close the road as well as seven single-track back lanes was taken in close consultation with Kent County Council's highways officials.

The closures coincided with the start of the school summer holidays, a decision Mrs Bonser-Wilton described at the time as "crackers".

The roads are due to open again up on October 16 - three months earlier than originally planned.

She said: "It's definitely had a detrimental effect on the business of the castle. We all wondered at the time why do the works in the school holidays.

"We have been told by people that they have been put off coming to the castle because of the closures, even local people. They just didn't want to have to make a big detour."

Mrs Bonser-Wilton declined to discuss the the amount of money Leeds Castle has lost due to the closure or the extent to which visitor numbers fell.

But she added: "There were fewer feet on the ground for sure. You could see it. And we all live in the area and you'd hear from people that they'd start returning once the works were finished.

"I am extremely grateful they'll be done in time for the October half-term holidays."

It will also be a boon for the annual fireworks display on November 4 and 5 as well as the launch of the castle's four luxury lakeside lodges.

July and August are the castle’s busiest months for tourists when much of its annual income is generated. Revenues are still running at 80% of pre-pandemic levels.

Mrs Bonser-Wilton said the utility company has been very helpful in complying to some requests she had made to make it easier for staff to get into work and for deliveries.

SEW said at the time of the closures, it had been working closely with KCC officers and was guided by advice.

Other businesses, such as the George Inn in Leeds village, reported that the total lack of passing traffic had affected trade.

Now that the early closure has been announced, landlord Jason Tharp and his wife Debbie can focus on building up for Christmas, one of the pub's most lucrative times of the year as well as re-establishing it local customers.

Businesses which can prove that the disruption has affected their business will be entitled to compensation, SEW confirmed.

Chairman of KCC's environment and transport cabinet committee, Cllr Seán Holden said: “There are road closures all over Kent at the moment and it seems they are for the convenience of the contractor rather than the residents and businesses who are affected by them.”