A dad says new measures to stop motorists hitting a notorious bollard are "about as much use as a chocolate teapot".

Reflective stickers have been put on what is known locally as the metal bell, at the junction of London Road and Gun Lane in Strood.

People living in the area say there is an accident at the busy crossways every week – and just days after the red markers were added, there was another crash.

Police were called at 1.29am on Wednesday after a lorry collided with the metal bell.

Gary Hunt has previously complained about the "hazard" and called for it to be painted bright red or orange to make it easier for motorists to see.

The butcher said he was even willing to paint it himself but feared he might get arrested if he did.

It is there to stop vehicles mounting the pavement to protect pedestrians but it has been blamed for causing several accidents, including one involving Gary's son, Jonathan.

Gary Hunt shares his solution

He was on his way to work when his company car hit the bell, causing thousands of pounds of damage.

In October last year, a Fiat 500 clipped the bollard and overturned, and in July 2020 the road was shut for three hours after a car crashed into the bollard.

And in 2014, a driver miraculously escaped serious injury after his car overturned and landed on its roof.

Gary, who lives in nearby Northcote Road, said: "I saw them putting on the reflective squares and I knew they weren't going to be sufficient.

"The stickers are about as much use a chocolate teapot."

"They are too small. They should be three times that much.

"They are about 2in by 2in. It is like trying to see a 5p coin from 200 yards away.

"The stickers are about as much use a chocolate teapot."

Gary said that just days after the red markings were added, there was another accident at the junction.

"If you look at the bollard, there are tyre marks on it and there was sand all over the road," he added.

"So the council are still not listening. Does it have to take someone to be killed for them to see they should be doing something more?"

The council says the reflective stickers are a temporary measure while it looks into a long-term solution.

In January, the bollard was painted white which was also, the council said, a temporary measure.

Gary said: "It is dangerous. It should be orange or red like a traffic cone so you can see it clearly.

"It is like having a concrete block in the road. And you cannot see the red squares until you are right up to it."

"I dread seeing on the news there has been a fatal accident there. I would feel guilty, even though I have tried my best to get something done about it."

An employee at Papa Johns, who didn't want to be named, said: "There are always accidents at the junction – one a week.

"They are not always caused by the bollard but a lot are – I'd say one or two every month.

"The bollard is a problem for people coming from Watling Street and turning left – they are not expecting it."

A police spokesman confirmed officers were called to a report that a lorry had collided with the bollard in Gun Lane at 1.29am on Wednesday, March 16.

"Police attendance was not required," they added. "Highways dealt with fuel on the road."

Michael Edwards, Medway Council’s head of transport and parking, said: “The bell bollard is in place for the safety of pedestrians and to protect the corner of London Road, and the businesses that are located there.

"The new reflective strips aim to improve visibility, whilst we consider options for a long-term solution.”