A large sinkhole which has closed a major road could take weeks to repair.

The void appeared in the middle of the A26 Tonbridge Road between B2246 Fountain Lane and Queen's Road yesterday evening.

In a notice to residents, KCC Highways describes the hole as "significant and severe" stating that early investigations suggest the hole extends a total of 20 metres from kerb to kerb beneath the road surface.

The council also notes that the route is not only key for traffic but also sits above a number of pipes and ducts for gas, water, and electricity.

Co-ordinating repairs with utilities providers and the need for care around the essential services are expected to affect the timescale.

The subsidence is affecting both lanes of the route and the pavement causing traffic problems between Maidstone and East Barming.

Highways are advising drivers to avoid the closure by taking the A20 Terrace Road out of Maidstone through Allington, going on to A228 Ashton Way and A228 Malling Road through Larkfield and Leybourne before rejoining the Tonbridge Road at Mereworth.

The same applies in reverse for traffic heading towards the County Town.

A second diversion is in place via Queens Road, A20 London Road, and B2246 Hermitage Lane.

The hole has grown larger overnight with one eye-witness, Malcolm from Traga Launderette on the corner of Terminus Road, describing it as only three feet deep when it first appeared but now being much bigger.

"Because of the traffic diversion the business won't take so much today as it usually does," he added.

The last person to drive over the sinkhole felt only a bump in the road before seeing it collapse minutes later.

Mohamed Islam, who works at Taj Barming, opposite the sinkhole, said: "At about five o'clock, driving in to work, I literally got to the front of the restaurant, where I turn right to go into the car park, and it felt as if my car went over a bump or a dip.

"I was wondering what it was but didn't take too much notice of it.

"I parked up and peered over the road and I see a police car pull up and start closing the road and putting cones down.

"I asked and he said there was a dip in the road.

"They closed it down and then about 20 minutes later there was a big sinkhole and it all just collapsed."

Another witness who saw the road fall in was Lauren Bourke who said: "We were driving along Tonbridge Road towards the Taj Barming when we were overtaken by a police car who then stopped in front of us and asked us to put our hazard lights on. We helped him to divert the traffic down a side road while he closed the junction for Hermitage Lane.

"We were watching as the road was sinking further and further and then after about 30 minutes the road just gave way. I believe there was concern for the houses along that stretch as they weren't sure how big the hole was, but it was at least 7ft deep."

"A bus came down the road just before it was closed off so he was super lucky that the weight didn't cause the bus to go down it," she added.

This sinkhole is the third in Barming in two months.

One cavity destroyed part of a drive way and brought down fence panels when it appeared in Broomshaw Road in April while another hole swallowed up car parking spaces at Orchard Fields, a new Bovis Homes housing development just over a two weeks ago.

As of this morning, commuters in Tunbridge Wells are also warned of delays, after a sinkhole opened up in Bayham Road.