Motorists are set to face more traffic misery when the M2 closes over two weekends next month.

Highways bosses have confirmed the London-bound stretch will be shut between Junction 5 for Sittingbourne, Sheppey and Maidstone, and Junction 7 for Brenley Corner at Faversham across the first and third weekends in July.

It comes after a full weekend closure last month, when the motorway was shut coast-bound to allow work to be carried out to waterproof a number of bridges over the road.

The 58-hour closure from the evening of Friday, May 13 to the morning of Monday, May 16 wiped out all of Saturday and Sunday.

A diversion took motorists down Detling Hill, onto the M20, through the Brock contraflow, down to Dover and up the A2 past Canterbury to Brenley Corner.

Now, National Highways has confirmed the dates for the next raft of closures.

The London-bound stretch will be closed between 8pm on Friday, July 1 to 6am on Monday, July 4.

It will also be shut between 8pm on Friday, July 15 to 6am on Monday, July 18.

Faversham MP Helen Whately has called on National Highways to keep disruption to "an absolute minimum".

She said: "Junction closures on the M2 are the last thing local motorists want to hear.

"Our roads were just getting back to normal following Operation Brock being wound up earlier this month.

"I’ve told National Highways to keep disruption to an absolute minimum. Motorists in Kent have suffered enough this year already.

"I know these closures will be hugely frustrating for many people, but I’m glad National Highways has listened to my calls to avoid carrying out repair work during peak summer holiday season.

"I’ve also stressed that diverted traffic needs to be kept off local roads like the A251 and A20 to avoid lorries getting stuck and causing chaos."

National Highways says the work has been planned to avoid the school summer holidays.

In a letter sent to Mrs Whately informing her of the closures, a spokesman said: "If it's not possible to carry out the work over either of those weekends, we'd look for an alternative date, subject to agreement with KCC, in September.

"With regards to the impact on local roads, where possible we'll always to keep diverted traffic on our roads.

"Diversion routes are chosen, in liaison with the local highway authority and police, and consider the type of traffic being diverted, ensuring it is appropriate and safe for their use."