AN INVESTIGATION is under way into an incident which brought a Kent city centre to a standstill after construction workers drilled through a gas main.

A police cordon was put up from Rochester Bridge to Star Hill in Rochester while the pipe was repaired on Monday afternoon.

Traffic and pedestrians were diverted via the Esplanade and through historic Rochester while Corporation Street was closed off.

The Victoria line, which runs between Rochester and London, was suspended and commuters were stuck on trains while the leak was made safe.

Gas could be smelt across the river on Medway City Estate, Strood, after a drill used to go 100ft down, severed a main pipe at around 4pm.

The roads were finally opened again at 9pm.

The gas main was damaged while drains were being fitted as part of the regeneration of Rochester Riverside.

* Full story in Friday's Medway Messenger.