A major road is closed in both directions after a large sinkhole appeared.

The A26 Tonbridge Road in Maidstone has been shut between the B2246 Fountain Lane and Queen's Road.

The road is expected to remain closed throughout the night.

It is affecting traffic between East Barming and Maidstone.

Diversions are in place via Hermitage Lane and the A20 for Maidstone bound traffic.

Tonbridge bound vehicles are being sent along Queens Road, the A20 and Hermitage Lane.

Mohamed Islam, who works at Taj Barming, which is right opposite the sinkhole, was the last man to drive over the road before it collapsed.

He said: "At about five o'clock, driving in to work, I literally got to the front of the restaurant, where I turn right to go into the car park, and it felt as if my car went over a bump or a dip.

"I was wondering what it was but didn't take too much notice of it.

"I parked up and peered over the road and I see a police car pull up and start closing the road and putting cones down.

"I asked and he said there was a dip in the road.

"They closed it down and then about 20 minutes later there was a big sinkhole and it all just collapsed."

The sinkhole is the third to affect Barming in two months.

A cavity destroyed part of a drive way and fence panels when it appeared in Broomshaw Road in April.

Meanwhile, another hole swallowed up car parking spaces at Orchard Fields, a new housing development by Bovis Homes just over a fortnight ago.

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Meanwhile, commuters in Tunbridge Wells are also warned of delays, after a sinkhole opened up in Bayham Road.