A road in Rochester is to be closed for at least another three months as repairs to a church continue.

Buses are still being rerouted 14 weeks after part of the Elim Pentecostal Church collapsed.

Delce Road had to be closed off after stones fell from the front of the 160-year-old building, on Saturday, February 4, following strong winds.

Scroll down for video

Medway Council later put a fence up around the church for safety reasons and the road has been closed ever since.

The Messenger was told this week, it probably will not be reopened until August.

Contractors have removed more rubble from the church and scaffolding was put up around the front of the building in February.

VIDEO: Work continues to restore the building.

It is understood work to replace the ragstones started on Monday, May 8 and is expected to take about three months.

Gill Erwin, lay representative at the church, said: “The damage was apparently caused by frost. The church are paying for the repairs to be done.”

The work is being carried out by Pierra Restoration Ltd, which is based in Crayford, Dartford, and is costing at least £200,000.

The company recently completed restoration work at The Brook Theatre, in Chatham and has also previously restored the Gravesend Clock Tower.

A Medway Council spokesman added: “We have spoken with representatives of the church to find out how the repair works are going with a view of reopening Delce Road.

"The road can only be opened when the structure is made safe.

“We have been advised by the church that the repair works could take three more months. We will continue to speak with representatives from the church to monitor progress.”

At the time of the collapse pensioner Barbara Yates spoke to the Messenger about her miraculous escape.

Mrs Yates had been standing outside the church waiting for a bus just moments before the stonework came down.

As she decided to walk to Star Hill to catch a different service, she heard a loud noise and looked behind to see rubble falling from the building into the road.

Mrs Yates, 68, said: “I heard what sounded like a bomb going off and then I realised I was walking through dust. If I had not made the decision to get on the other bus, I might not be here today.”