A vital crossing in Kent will be closed for eight days from this evening.

The Kingsferry Bridge, which connects the Isle of Sheppey with the mainland, will shut for important repairs from 10pm tonight until 5am on Sunday, November 3.

Network Rail is replacing the 40 steel ropes which lift the bridge for shipping.

Although the work was not planned until 2026, it had to be urgently brought forward after scans revealed the ropes had degraded.

Network Rail said if the work wasn’t done before winter there was a risk the ropes could fail, resulting in a bridge closure for a much longer period.

The lifting ropes in the Kingsferry Bridge towers and the counterweight ropes that balance the bridge deck when it lifts were replaced over a series of closures in June and July.

The fresh closures are for the lifting ropes in the Kent Towers to be replaced.

Commuters on Sheppey and in Sittingbourne have been advised to use the parallel Sheppey Crossing while the works are taking place.

Motorists are also being advised to plan ahead, leave more time to travel and drive at quieter times of the day.

Buses will also replace trains for the week during repair work.

To reduce congestion during the work, Network Rail and the county council have agreed that traffic management from the northbound A249 will be temporarily removed.

There will also be free vehicle recovery from Cowsted Corner to Bobbing Roundabout, and shuttle buses will be in place for rail passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and 50cc moped and motorbike users.

It has also been agreed that non-emergency roadworks in the area will be turned down while the Kingsferry Bridge is closed.

During the closures, the bridge will be shut to motorists, rail passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and all maritime traffic, including jet skis and other leisure craft.