A major road closure branded “ridiculous” by a nearby business is over.

SGN has confirmed that urgent repairs to its Sittingbourne gas network, along the A2 at Key Street, have been completed – four weeks after they first began.

Last week it was announced a five day extension was needed for the closure of the busy route due to road resurfacing.

The distribution company had begun fixing a gas leak on the main road on November 26.

Initially, there was a traffic-light-controlled lane closure on the road outside the Long Hop pub, but on Thursday, December 7, that turned into a full road closure.

The work was originally meant to finish on December 6, but was later extended until December 16 and then December 20.

As a result Andria and Andy Matheou, who run the nearby Marino Fish Bar, say their trade plummeted, particularly since the gas firm placed a “road closed” sign along the route to their business.

Last week they claimed “confusing signage” was stopping people from visiting the takeaway shop.

At the time Andy said: “We were losing money when the road was down to one lane last week but now it says the road is closed we’ve lost even more.

“No one notified us that the road was closing or contacted us after the emergency works began to explain what was going on.

“The signs need to be clearer. The roadworks and diversion are overcomplicated, it is ridiculous.”

Today (December 19) an SGN spokesman said: “We've completed urgent repairs to our gas network along A2 Key Street, near to its junction with Wises Lane.

“Over the weekend, we'd been working to restore the road surface around our work area to its original condition.

“All being well, we'll be able to remove our road closure and our equipment on the morning of Wednesday, December 20, with the road returned to full use by rush hour.”

For the latest traffic and travel news listen to kmfm.