A narrow country road in East Farleigh will be closed for three days while South East Water installs water meters.

The work will start in Vicarage Lane on Monday, February 16 - during the school half term holiday - but will not affect access to homes and businesses.

A signed diversion route will be via Forge Lane, Lower Road and Gallants Lane.

It comes as the water company rolls out its metering programme in the village, which aims to fit the technology for 90% of its customers by 2020.

It means residents only pay for what they use, and encourages them to save water.

South East Water’s metering manager Oluseyi Onifade said: “The closure is needed because the road is very narrow and we need to make sure the public and our workforce are kept safe.

“We have worked closely with Kent Highways to plan the best time to carry out this work when traffic will be lightest.

“By giving our customers water meters we are also able to manage this vital resource better and secure supplies for the future.”

The South East has been classed by the Environment Agency as an area of serious water stress in the UK, given its rising population and lower than average rainfall.