Rail services were suspended after a vital crossing was hit by a boat.

Buses replaced trains on the Sheerness line this morning after the collision at the Kingsferry Bridge, which connects the Isle of Sheppey with the mainland.

The bridge, which lifts to allow maritime traffic using The Swale to pass underneath, was also closed to drivers, pedestrians and cyclists for a short time.

However, by 9.35am, the road had been reopened and trains were using the crossing again.

Kingsferry Bridge is the only way for people to get on and off the Island by foot, train or bicycle.

Southeastern, which runs services between Sittingbourne and Sheerness, halted trains just before 8.30am.

A spokesman said response staff were on their way to inspect the bridge and replacement buses would be operating by 8.50am.

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A special train service was operating on unaffected parts of the line, between Sheerness and Queenborough and Sittingbourne and Swale, while the bridge was out of action, with buses taking passengers over the Sheppey Crossing instead.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We were notified at around 8.15am that a commercial boat had collided with the Kingsferry Bridge.

“As a result, through trains on the Sheerness Line were blocked with a shuttle service running between Sheerness and Queenborough as the bridge was held in the raised position for our teams to arrive to examine the structure.

“The structure was examined and deemed safe to reopen for normal running at around 9.35am. We thank passengers for their patience as we responded to this incident.”

Police were called at 8.20am and carried out inquiries with the ship’s captain. They found nothing suspicious.