Drivers are queuing for a third day in a row to access Kent's major ports.

There are large volumes of lorries heading towards Dover and Eurotunnel this morning.

Dover TAP, short for Traffic Access Protocol, has been implemented on the coastbound A20 at Aycliffe due to the high volumes of freight.

It was put in place for the fourth time in two weeks on Tuesday, was also activated yesterday and is once again active today.

Kent County Council says this is to prevent port-bound traffic from affecting the local road network and the A20 through Dover town.

It means a 40mph speed restriction will apply to all vehicles approaching Dover from the west via the A20.

The larger volumes than usual have been attributed to the pre-Christmas rush, stockpiling and coronavirus vaccine delivery.

When traffic reaches high volumes vehicles will be held at temporary traffic lights until space becomes available.

In addition lay-bys in the area will be closed, as will be the coastbound on slip at the Courtwood junction on occasion.

There are also delays on the M20 between junctions 11 and 11a coasttbound due to high volumes of freight traffic heading to Eurotunnel and there are HGVs queued on the hard shoulder.

The slip-road onto the M20 coastbound from the A20 at Junction 11 for Hythe has been closed as a result.

Motorists are being asked to plan ahead and allow extra time for journeys.

Dover TAP is the first of five stages comprising Operation Brock, designed to maintain traffic flow in the county during busy freight periods.

In the full Operation Brock, Dover TAP will be succeeded by the M20 J8-9 contraflow system - in which lorries would use the eastbound carriageway as a holding station.

From four days from Friday the M20 will shut to allow for Operation Brock preparation works.

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