A bus shelter has been axed over fears mums with prams and wheelchair users are "dicing with death" trying to manoeuvre around it.

The old stop was outside Northfleet High Street, just a short walk from Lawn Community Primary School.

Previously pedestrians had been able to walk behind the shelter, near the Elephant and Castle pub.

But changes due to new homes being built directly behind the stop has forced people out from the pavement and into the road.

It prompted fears the pick-up point had become unsafe for mums with pushchairs and wheelchair users who were said to be "dicing with death" trying to navigate around it.

Gravesham council has since removed the old shelter and says a more suitable replacement with a roof and no sides is being put in its place.

But the move took some people by surprise after the old structure was spotted being hoisted away by workmen last week.

Councillor Conrad Broadley discusses the problems posed by the old bus shelter

One mum said: "I just could not believe it because we use that bus stop every day. They took it away because it was not safe and it was falling down."

But the Northfleet resident, who did not wish to be named, said the bus stop was relied upon by school children and there was no notice of its removal.

"They could have at least told us to get our umbrellas out," she added.

Also affected has been dog walker Steven Bower, who had to take his elderly pooch Sweep out of their stroller to pass while walking along the route.

He said: "I felt bad for the parents at the school, it is a pain if you have to walk back across."

It's understood the development was authorised by Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, which is building homes in the area as part of the new garden city development.

Northfleet Cllr Conrad Broadley said an oversight had meant many residents were left "dicing with death".

He said: "The actual bus stop had an advert board that went across and that actually blocked the path.

"Now before this development came along there used to be a footpath behind so you just simply walked around the back of the bus stop.

But the footpath that was used by residents was not formally adopted for public use.

The project manager, who lives in Dover Road, said this meant everybody that came along had to climb up on a little bit of ramp and risk falling out into the road.

Gravesham council, which is responsible for the works, says the shelter is being replaced in the coming weeks.

It says the new structure will allow people to pass without having to step into the road.

Cllr Broadley added: "Finally the bus stop shelter blocking the footpath has been removed, no more dicing with death for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

"It is frustrating that it took so long and if the developers were a bit more community minded we would have had it before this."