The A249 is to be closed this afternoon so pieces of a trailer which fell through a security fence onto a public footpath can be recovered.

Three sections of the transporter toppled onto the walkway at Peel Ports in Brielle Way in Sheerness at about 8am.

They fell just short of the road but crushed the spiked fence.

A Peel Ports spokesman said: “Peel Ports can confirm an incident took place this morning, on Breille Way, Sheerness, involving trailers that slipped from a fork lift truck onto a public footpath.

"Fortunately no one was hurt in the incident and the road remains open at this point in time.

"As a responsible employer we have immediately started a full investigation and are in the process of planning the safe recovery of the trailers.”

A crane has been called in to help with the clear-up operation.

It is understood that the A249 will be closed from 1pm to 2pm while the trailer is recovered.