A brand new foot and cycle path has been closed because it is flooded – just weeks after it opened.

Part of the route, along the Lower Road in Minster, Sheppey, is under water following this week's heavy rain, which resulted in a drainage pipe being blocked.

Kent County Council (KCC), which was in charge of the path's construction – said it had been shut temporarily and work was being done to reopen it.

A spokesman added: "Debris and silt from adjacent fields has blocked the pipe outfall, causing surface water in the ditch to overflow across the footway/cycleway.

"We are working to resolve the issues to allow it to be reopened as soon as practicable.

"Once the recently placed topsoil has consolidated and planted vegetation has established, it is anticipated that the level of silt and debris will decrease over time."

Work on the foot and cycle path, which is between Cowstead Corner and Barton Hill Drive, was completed last month.

It was part of the second phase of improvement works for the Lower Road, which also included the widening of the road at Cowstead Corner roundabout and installation of drainage.

The phase was paid for by the National Productivity Investment Fund, which provided £3.195 million for the works.

All of this followed the opening of the £1.8m roundabout, at the junction of Barton Hill Drive and the Lower Road, at the end of 2018.

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