Highways officers are working to repair a stretch of main road today after a 2m-deep sinkhole appeared.

A Kent County Council (KCC) spokesman said: "Inspectors came across a small hole in Loose Road, Maidstone, on Wednesday night.

"On closer inspection, it was apparent that under the road there was a small void. Repairs are now being carried out."

Pete Baker discovered the hole on Wednesday evening, and has posted a video online showing how deep it is, which has been shared more than 350 times.

He said: "I was working at a property on Loose Road as part of my work for PSB Plastering with RSM property maintenance, and I finished at 5.30pm, and was loading up the van when I saw it.

"I called Kent Highways and said you need to get out here now, buses and lorries drive down this road and it looked ready to go.

"With the rod I put down it you could see there was a two-metre drop."

KCC has closed one lane of the Maidstone-bound carriageway close to the junction with Heather Drive while works are carried out, and have dug out a 3m by 2m area, which is 2m deep, to fully expose the affected area.

The KCC spokesman added: "On this occasion a damaged link to the main storm drain from the road gully has caused water to trickle out of the connection and wash away the fine material in the ground over time.

"This causes the larger bulk material to drop away, leaving a void. Other parts of the road are not susceptible to a similar problem, this is a one-off due to a damaged drainage connection."

Officers hope the work will be completed by early next week.