By Hayley Robinson

Concerns have been raised about deliveries reaching shops in Sittingbourne High Street over the coming weeks.

Southern Water closed the street on Monday in coordination with Kent County Council and other utility companies while engineers carry out various tasks including essential sewer works.

The road will remain closed for up two weeks - causing concern for shop owners about deliveries and the potential loss of business.

Andrea Don, owner of Nickel Books, said: "I've been OK so far as my delivery drivers know there is a car park down the alleyway near me so they can park there and wheel stuff round.

"It's places like Blundells furniture store and The Pet Shop who have large deliveries. Customers, especially disabled ones or those from out of town, usually park up in the lay-bys and come in but they won't be able to do that now." Victor Brobyn, owner of The Pet Shop, said: "We're lucky because we have got rear access but we do have a delivery from a big lorry on Fridays that comes through the High Street. It will have to go around the back for a couple of weeks.

"People also park in the lay-bys because they get 20 minutes free parking allowing them to pick up huge items and that is a huge benefit to businesses like us.

"I don't know why they didn't close the bottom half of the High Street so traffic could still come down the top part and turn off Central Avenue then close the top half of the High Street for the rest of the work and allow traffic to come from Central Avenue and turn into the High Street."

A Southern Water spokesman said: "The aim of the closure is to minimise disruption to the people of Sittingbourne by arranging for multiple works to be undertaken in a short space of time.

"Southern Water's engineers have been replacing manhole covers and frames along the road and are expected to have finished their work this week."