Water works along a busy road caused "absolute chaos" for drivers.

Sheppey Way in Bobbing, near Sittingbourne, was shut due to a leak.

According to roadworks website one.network, the route was shut off to traffic on Saturday (June 21).

Signs went up by the McDonald's and at the junction by Quinton Road.

Pictures showed several vans and machinery stationed along the road, with barriers in place around the excavation site – near the entrance of Parsonage Lane.

Running water could also be seen flowing down one side of the road.

The closure was to allow for repair and maintenance works to be carried out by Southern Water.

At the time, a spokesman said: “We’re sorry for any inconvenience our lane closure on Sheppey Way is causing.

“There is a minor split on our water main.

“We’re ready to make repairs but due to very high demand over the hot weekend, we want to ensure our storage reservoirs on the Island have plenty of supplies before we switch the line off and start the work.

“To speed the process of recharge we’re using our fleet of tankers to directly inject supplies into our reservoir.”

Traffic was diverted through the Sonora Fields estate, which caused problems during rush hour as well as pick-up and drop-off times near Bobbing Village School.

Cllr Lloyd Chapman (Reform) advised residents on a local Facebook group that they should avoid the area where possible.

He said: “We have had 11 HGV vehicles so far ignoring the road closed signage causing them to reverse back down again against parents and schoolchildren.

“I've asked [KCC] Highways to close the road opposite McDonald's and at Quinton Road except for householders etc.”

Another person added that it is “absolute chaos”, with large lorries using the train bridge on Quinton Road.

Southern Water has since confirmed that the repairs were completed by 4pm on Friday (June 27) and normal road conditions have been reinstated.