A family were trapped on the Hoo Peninsula overnight after the only road in and out was shut early.

Residents in Hoo, Allhallows, Grain and the surrounding villages were warned the A228 Ratcliffe Highway would be shut between 1am and 5am over several Sundays to allow a heavy load to be transported to Thamesport in Grain.

Simon Ruffell lives in Jutland Close, Allhallows, and had friends over for dinner on Sunday. The couple left around midnight with their two-year-old son as they knew the road was due to close at 1am.

But within 20 minutes they were back on Mr Ruffell’s doorstep – the A228 was shut and they could not find a way out.

Mr Ruffell got in his own car to see if he could find a back route, but every way he tried was blocked. The whole of the A228 from Four Elms Hill in Chattenden to Grain was closed.

He stopped a highways vehicle and was told they had to shut the road early because of staff shortages. His friends had no choice but to stay at his flat.

Mr Ruffell said: “Hannah is heavily pregnant so I gave up my bed. I’m registered disabled after suffering a back injury so sleeping on the sofa left me in a lot of pain.

“Why spend all that time and money sending letters to residents about roads closing, and then close the road at a different time?”

Mr Ruffell added: “I want reassurances it is not going to happen again. I asked what would happen if I had been coming back the other way and couldn’t get to my house. If the road was closed early again, would I have to sleep in my car? But no-one has been able to answer that question.”

A Medway Council spokesperson said: “The road closures in the Grain area are subject to the arrival time of the abnormal load.

"The arrival times in Medway can and do vary depending on what is encountered on the route each night. Due to the size and weight of the load it is not possible for it to stop to arrive on schedule or speed up if it is later than expected.

“On the April 18, the load arrived in Medway at 00.20 and the road closures happened as it approached the affected roads. As a result, the closure was in place slightly earlier than the notices stated.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused. We advise residents to be extra cautious and allow for any slight variations in timings.”

Medway Council has now re-examined the road closures and notices will now state between midnight and 5am for the final six journeys of the heavy load which take place in the early hours of Sunday, May 8, Monday, May 16, Monday, May 23, Sunday, June 5 and two more dates to be confirmed.