A gas leak has closed a road in Detling.

Residents reported smelling gas in Hockers Lane on Wednesday.

SGN engineers arrived but could not immediately identify the location of the leak and, after turning off the supply to the high pressure gas main beneath the road, they began digging exploratory holes, which required closing the road that connects Bearsted with Detling.

The company was unable to say how long the work would take because they haven't yet identified the problem.

A workman on site said: "If we find it's leaking from a joint, we might be able to fix it today, and then it would just take a couple of days to re-instate the road surface.

"But if the main itself is damaged, we could be here another week."

A resident said it was the fourth gas leak in the road so far this year.

The company has been able to maintain gas supply to nearby homes. The traffic diversion is via the A249 and Detling Hill.