An electricity transformer the size of a house will go on the road during the Bank Holiday weekend.

Drivers are being warned of a resulting closure of the A20 and slow speeds as it will be transported at about 12mph.

The giant load will leave the Port of Dover at midnight on Sunday, May 28, aboard an 87-metre long specialist delivery vehicle.

It is expected to arrive at the National Grid’s Sellindge substation at 7am on Bank Holiday Monday, May 29.

Flanked by outriders from Kent Police the transformer will leave the Port of Dover at Union Street and travel along the A20 to the Alkham Valley Road Junction (A260 – Canterbury Road).

It will then continue along the A259 (Churchill Avenue) to access the M20 at junction 13 at Folkestone.

It will exit the M20 at Junction 9, western Ashford, and re-join it to travel back to Junction 10 at eastern Ashford.

This is due to a weight restriction at this junction.

The load will then leave the M20 at junction 10, travelling along the A20 and Church Lane before reaching the Sellindge substation.

The A20 will be closed temporarily from Dover to the A260 exit from 10pm on Sunday until 4am on Monday. A signed diversion route will be put in place.

The vehicle is so big that it needs two trucks, one at the back and one at the front, to propel it.

National Grid project engineer Alex Lloyd, said: “It’s our job to connect people to the energy they use and this delivery is part of that process.

“Once operational the transformer will change the voltage of electricity so it can be transported along local power lines and delivered to homes, businesses and community facilities.”

He added: “We’ll do all we can to make sure this delivery goes as smoothly as possible.

"If people could avoid parking on the route, particularly on narrow areas, it will ensure we get the transformer from Dover to Sellindge as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

Transformers regularly have to be transported on Kent’s roads and a previous route was from the Sellindge substation to Dover in February.

If people have any questions or concerns they can call 0800 731 1231 or email info@communityrelations.co.uk.