The closure of a footpath which has been shut since 2020 has been extended for another two years.

The Medway Towpath in Aylesford could be shut for a total of four years while Kent County Council (KCC) struggles to find funding.

The 10.5km route opened in spring 2017 and runs from Aylesford to Barming.

It was allocated funding from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, KCC and Maidstone Borough Council, and was the biggest investment in Maidstone River Park since the Millennium project that created it.

Part of the footpath – between the Bailey Bridge car park and the Volvo dealership – had to be closed in spring 2020 due to subsidence.

Initially it was predicted to be repaired in spring/summer 2021, but it was then delayed until September this year.

Now it has been pushed back a further two years, until September 4, 2024.

The towpath is regularly used by walkers, cyclists and runners.

Carol Davies, chairman of Maidstone Ramblers, said: "It's just a really difficult situation.

"From a rambler's point of view we can deal with it, as there is an alternative way round.

"We have a group that walks up the other side of the river into Maidstone, then crosses over and comes back as far as we can to the subsidence.

"Fortunately we are all able-bodied – the people suffering are those who are disabled or have pushchairs."

An alternative route has been put in place via Forstal Road. This requires walkers to go through an alleyway and then cross the main road onto a pavement.

Carol added: "Crossing is the problem – it's a horrible and awful road.

"I guess KCC could set up temporary lights, but that would cost money.

"We understand though how hard it is for the council to get funding.

"It's a real loss – we can only hope it gets fixed soon."

Tracey Crouch, MP for Chatham and Aylesford, said: “It is enormously frustrating that such a well-used and much-loved path has been closed for so long.

"The officer at the council has done a phenomenal amount of work to try to get it reopened and had the bosses agreed in the first place, the estimated costs wouldn’t now be so high.

"It’s closure impacts more than just those who use the path but also the small businesses in Aylesford village such as the shop, café and pubs.

"I know that Aylesford residents find the lack of will from the council leaders to provide the funding, or even a minor detour that enables people to stay largely on the path, really infuriating and everyone hopes it opens sooner rather than later."

The council is currently "exploring further funding options" after the last try was rejected.

Repair work is estimated to cost hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Without the funding, the pathway could be shut for a total of four years and may fall into a worse state of repair as time carries on.

A KCC spokesman said: “We apologise for any disruption this extended closure causes, which is in place to protect people.

“Since our last bid for funding was rejected, officers have been exploring further funding options.

"We hope to be able to reopen the path as soon as it is safe to do so."