Overnight closures will be taking place on a busy crossing this weekend.

Drivers are being advised to plan ahead and leave extra time for their journeys as the Dartford Crossing is set to undergo essential maintenance and repairs during a planned closure.

The Queen Elizabeth II bridge, A282 Dartford-Thurrock river crossing will be closed from 10pm on Saturday until 10am on Sunday so the works can take place.

Kent-bound traffic will be diverted via the east tunnel while the bridge is closed, and Essex-bound traffic will use the west tunnel as normal.

An alternative diversion will be in place via the M25 clockwise for those in vehicles between 4.8m (15ft 9in) and 5m (16ft 6in) high that are approaching from the Kent side.

During the closure, contractors will be replacing a bearing at the base of one of the bridge’s four 84-metre-high pylons.

The bearings play a big role in transferring load from the bridge deck and they also allow for movement of the bridge as it expands and contracts in different temperatures.

Over time, these bearings have become worn, so they are being replaced to help keep journeys safe and maintained over the next few decades.

These works are a part of an extensive maintenance programme that is under way at the Dartford Crossing which means overnight closures are in place regularly.

There were a number of overnight closures on the crossing between November 3 and 11.

This was also to allow essential maintenance and repair works to take place.