The roadworks saga that has plagued East Malling for more than two months is over… for now.

Motorists could travel freely last week as a South East Water project came to an end, but the misery doesn’t end there.

Gas contractor SGN has announced plans to come back to the village later this month to finish works it didn’t get done over the summer.

Villagers endured eight weeks of frustration when the utility firm carried out the £42,000 upgrades on the High Street, leading to a 10-mile diversion through Leybourne and Kings Hill, despite the stretch of road being dug up being little more than 100 metres long.

The firm first moved in at the end of July, with work due to end on September 1, in time for the start of the school term, but heavy rain and poor ground conditions hampered the plans, leading to a two-week extension.

A week later, KCC Highways handed a permit to South East Water to carry out repairs on a nearby road, forcing SGN to down tools.

“The works divided our village. It has been deprived of this vital route for the whole summer and I believe the situation is totally unacceptable" - Roger Roud

The water company carried out works to ensure future water supplies in the area, which involved digging up the junction of The Rocks Road, Easterfields and Sweets Lane to check the condition of underground pipes.

This week it emerged residents’ woes aren’t over. SGN has confirmed the firm will be returning from Friday October 23, leading to the busy route being closed for another week.

The contractors hope to minimise disruption by completing works during half-term. However, angry locals will still face the 10-mile diversion.

Roger Roud of East Malling Parish Council said: “The works divided our village. It has been deprived of this vital route for the whole summer and I believe the situation is totally unacceptable."

Last time the utility provider was completing works, residents branded the project as poorly managed, with one driver stuck in a narrow country lane for 20 minutes after being faced by six oncoming vehicles.