Sheppey's MP has vowed to press Kent County Council for improvements to stop residents in the eastern end of the Island being cut off when its only access road is closed.

Gordon Henderson has spoken out after yesterday's crash in Leysdown Road, Leysdown, which left five people injured.

The stretch of road is known locally as Jenkins Hill and, when closed, the only possible alternative is the unmade and impassable Donkey Hill at Warden Point.

He said: "I am well aware of this problem. This is a notoriously dangerous stretch of road, the improvement of which I have been campaigning for many years, with the help of local borough and parish councillors.

"I will be writing to David Brazier pointing out that whenever there is an accident, which as you know happens periodically, the Lower Road is closed and the communities of Bayview, Leysdown and Warden are cut off.

"During the holiday season such closures leave thousands of people stranded. I shall be pointing out also that there is no alternative route to the eastern end of Sheppey, since the only other possible access is via Donkey Hill, which is not useable by motor vehicles, including those used by the emergency services.

"I shall be reminding Mr Brazier that some years ago Kent Highways undertook to review Jenkins Hill, to see if there was a way of mitigating the problem, but nothing appears to have been done. I shall be asking him for an update.

Taxi driver, Neil McLennan, who set up the Repair Our Awful Roads campaign backed by the Sheerness Times Guardian, contacted Mr Henderson after the accident.

He questioned whether it is time the issue of Donkey Hill and its inaccessibility was addressed for residents in Leysdown, Bay View, Warden Bay and Shellness.

He said: "As a taxi driver I know of a number of children unable to get home. As a resident I am unable to get home. As a concerned parent and homeowner if my son who is at home needs an ambulance, or heaven forbid a fire engine is required, no assistance can get through.

"While I accept that Donkey Hill is not an adopted road, there is no other route in or out, perhaps it should be adopted or at least passable, and gated with access to emergency vehicles in case of emergency."