The M20 has now reopened after an earlier closure for the moving of an “exceptionally large” power transformer.

Officials shut a coastbound stretch of the road to allow the heavy-duty machine to be transported overnight from Dover at a speed of just 5mph.

But National Highways said this morning that the operation needed to be delayed, so the motorway remained shut between Junction 10 for Ashford South and Junction 11 for Hythe for slightly longer than expected.

All lanes affected have now been reopened to traffic.

A spokesman said: “The closure overnight was put in place to facilitate the movement of an exceptionally large and heavy load (a power transformer) from Dover.

“Due to the dimensions of the load the vehicle transporting it will have to travel Londonbound on the M20 using the coastbound carriageway between J10 and J11.

“Using the eastbound carriageway to travel westbound will allow the vehicle to safely exit the motorway at J10a.

“Due to unexpected delays in the movement of the vehicle away from Dover – which required the removal of some street furniture to allow it safe passage – the closure of the M20 will remain in place longer than anticipated.

“The closure will remain until the load, which is travelling at 5mph, has travelled through the closure and exited the M20.

Diverted motorists were told to “follow the hollow circle symbol via the A20 eastbound to rejoin the M20 at J11” while the move was being carried out.

Electrical transformers are machines that transfer electricity from one circuit to another with changing voltage level but no frequency change.

National Highways anticipated the road being reopened not long after 9am, but it remained shut until about 11am.