The M20 is set to close to London-bound traffic for two nights to allow for 'essential maintenance'.

Motorists hoping to use the motorway over the weekend are being advised to plan ahead due to the overnight closure between Ashford and Maidstone.

The section between Junction 9 and Junction 8 will be closed between 9pm and 6am tomorrow and Saturday while barrier maintenance and carriageway repairs are carried out.

It affects part of the motorway that is under the Operation Brock contraflow, which sees the coast-bound carriageway closed to regular traffic, which uses a contraflow system on the London-bound side.

A Highways England spokesman confirmed that coast-bound traffic would still be able to use their side of the contraflow, with the closure affecting only the other side of the carriageway,

All vehicles heading towards London will need to follow a diversion, via the A20.

Motorists and motorcyclists should exit at Junction 9 onto the A20 and re-join the M20 at Junction 8, near Leeds Castle.

A low bridge at Harrietsham which has a height restriction of 15ft 6in (4.7m) means that over height vehicles must turn around at junction 9 and head back on the M20 to junction 13.

They should then join the A20 towards Dover, before joining the London-bound A2.

Elsewhere, overnight roadworks are also due to see the closure of the M2 in both directions between Faversham and Sittingbourne for three weeks from February 1.

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