A road labelled as “dangerous” for more than a year will remain temporarily unfixed after being hit with delays.

The work in Ferry Road in Iwade, Sittingbourne has been causing problems for residents since a water leak was identified by Southern Water last year.

The road, which runs directly through the village, has seen a large hole be dug by engineers in a bid to solve the problem.

However plans to finish the project remain ongoing – despite the utilities company announcing work was due to be finished by the end of this week.

A spokesman for Southern Water said: “We are continuing our work to tackle a complex leak in Ferry Road, and would like to apologise again for the ongoing impact this is having on the local community.

“Teams are using specialist leakage detection technology, which does not require the water supply to be shut off, to assist in finding and fixing the leak with the minimum impact on customers.

"We are conducting further investigations over the coming days and should be able to give an estimated completion date then."

Councillor Roger Clark, 79, said in July the work was an “absolute nuisance”.

The Conservative councillor for Bobbing, Iwade and Lower Halstow believed both the hole, and the congestion caused by temporary traffic lights, are causing problems for residents.

He added the issue was also worrying for parents who have to take their children to Iwade School – due to part of Ferry Road’s path being blocked.

Cllr Clark explained: "It's an absolute nuisance - there's a huge hole in the road and it's making it so difficult to drive in and out of the area.

"The development [Orchard Meadows] being built opposite my road in Peach Blossom Drive also means there is a three-way traffic light system.

"So it's a real pain and means everyone in Iwade is being affected.

“It just can't be left as it is because it’s dangerous, blocking driveways and part of the path, so it's just not on.”

Southern Water informed Iwade Parish Council work on the leak was due to be completed by the end of this week.

A statement from Southern Water on August 31 said: "We will now commence with the leakage detection, which we hope will be completed by the end of next week.

"If all goes well and we locate the leak, we will then commence with our plan to fix it as quickly and safely as possible."

But due to further delays, a new date for when work will be finished is not yet known.