A house has been badly damaged after a crash involving a car and a John Lewis lorry in Horsmonden.

The accident happened in Goudhurst Road around 8.45am this morning (Saturday, March 18), closing the route in both directions for more than seven hours.

A telegraph pole, phone box were also damaged, as well as the Grade II listed property used by estate agents Country Cottages, a branch of the Country Property Group.

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Roz Broad, account manager, was due to start work in the building about 10 minutes after the crash happened. She said the house has been used by the company for the past 25 years and everyone based there has been moved to another office in Goudhurst.

She said: "Fortunately it was a little before staff were due to get to work. It is really lucky as I was down for that as well.

"The cottage has been very much loved. We work down there on all the time and in the winter light up the little fire. It will get repaired but it will take a while.

"It is really sad but the main thing is nobody was hurt."

Firefighters, paramedics and police were called to the the scene and the carriageway was shut while the extent of the damage is assessed and the area made safe.

Workers from UK Power Networks were called to the scene to deal with the broken telegraph pole and a live wire.

A spokesman said: "Police are on site and making the area safe, they requested we attend site for safety and to isolate supplies.

"Power was isolated for approximately 30 minutes but is all restored now."

While work was underway nearby Heath Stores asked customers to use cash after its phone lines went down and credit card terminal out of action.

No one is believed to have been injured and the road has now been reopened.

Video: Goudhurst Road in Horsmonden is closed after a crash this morning.