PARTS of a Kent village will be almost completely cut off to traffic when gas mains work starts next month.

For some villagers the road closures in Wateringbury, near Maidstone, will bring welcome relief from the traffic, but for drivers it could mean long and frustrating delays.

The work by Southern Gas Networks (SGN) is due to start on Monday, February 4, and last for about eight weeks.

During that time, the A26 Tonbridge Road will be shut off completely from the village’s central crossroads to the junction with Love Lane, towards Mereworth.

There will be even more misery for drivers with the closure of Red Hill, running from Wateringbury towards East Malling, from Saturday, February 23 at the North Pole pub –making two sides of the village inaccessible.

All traffic will be diverted along Bow Road and a lorry ban put in place.

The parish council is asking villagers not to park along Bow Road while the work is carried out, particularly between 8am-6pm.

SGN is replacing old cast iron gas mains with new polyethylene pipes, which have a lifespan of about 80 years, at a cost of £65,000.