A busy road near a town centre is set to close overnight for more than two weeks in March.

The part closure of Willington Street in Maidstone will enable Kent County Council to instal traffic lights at the junction with Deringwood Drive and a new pedestrian crossing.

The work is being paid for by new homes provider, Bellway Homes.

It is part of the planning conditions imposed by a government inspector when permission was granted to create 421 homes on land west of Church Road in Otham, to be called Parsonage Place.

Willington Street will be closed near the junction between March 6 and March 24, from 8pm till 5am each night.

The official alternative route is a lengthy diversion via the A20 Ashford Road, New Cut Road, A249 Bearsted Road, Sittingbourne Road, Andrew Broughton Way, Ashford Road, Wat Tyler Way, Mote Road, A229 Upper Stone Street, Loose Road and the A274 Sutton Road.

The inspector had wanted the lights installed before work began on the site, but Bellway later sought and won permission from Maidstone council to alter the condition so that the junction was only required once the first 100 homes were built.

The junction was already regarded as dangerous by many locals even before any extra traffic from the development.

It is a key crossing point for pedestrians looking to enter Mote Park.

But pedestrians and motorists seeking to exit from Deringwood Drive hace raised concerns about speeding traffic.

Cllr Tony Harwood (Lib Dem) said: "It's true – you take your life in your hands crossing there."