Drivers are being urged to plan ahead as a month of road closures is announced on a busy route between Kent and Essex.

The Dartford Crossing is set to be shut overnight throughout June for essential maintenance works.

The closures are to allow for repairs to key electrical equipment in the east tunnel and to repaint the steelwork on a bridge near the A282 Junction 1a to protect it from corrosion.

The roads will be shut overnight on weeknights from Monday (June 3) to Friday, June 21.

The A282 northbound carriageway - between M25 junction 2 and junction 1a - will be closed between 10pm and 5.30am Monday to Thursday and 11pm to 6am on Fridays.

The Dartford East Tunnel will also be sealed off between 9pm and 5.30am Monday to Thursday and 9.30pm to 6am on Fridays.

Overnight weekend closures are also planned to allow for maintenance on both northbound tunnels at the crossing which will be closed from 8.30pm on Saturday, June 8 to 5am Sunday, June 9.

From Monday, June 24 to Friday, June 28, weeknight closures of the Dartford East Tunnel will then continue for one additional week.

It will again be closed between 9pm and 5.30am Monday to Thursday and 9.30pm to 6am on Fridays.

It is part of National Highways’ extensive maintenance programme to keep journeys at the Dartford Crossing safe and reliable.

Drivers are being warned to allow extra time during their journeys and follow the traffic management and diversion routes in place.