The removal of one of Ashford's busiest roundabouts has been postponed due to Operation Brock.

Highways bosses were set to reduce a 0.8-mile stretch of the A2070 Bad Munstereifel Road to a single lane in both directions from Tuesday.

The closures, which were set to last for six weeks, would have allowed workers to rip up the Orbital Park roundabout as part of the 'Bellamy Gurner' project.

But National Highways says given the disruption on the M20, it has asked contractors to hold off for a week.

The work will now begin on Monday, April 25 and – once complete – will see the Orbital Park roundabout replaced with a traffic light-controlled junction.

Earlier this year, bosses said the majority of the works are expected to be completed by September but ‘high-friction surfacing’ aimed at improving grip will be laid in October.

Seen as a way of improving traffic flow in the area, plans for the scheme first surfaced in the early 2000s.

As part of the project, the Avocet Way junction which leads to the Finberry housing estate will be upgraded, allowing drivers to turn right onto the A2070 for the first time.

The scheme is being funded by Finberry housebuilder Crest Nicholson, with FM Conway in charge of the build.

When the six-week lane closures are brought in, bosses say the following works will be carried out:

• Removal of the Orbital Park roundabout and installation of a temporary roundabout

• Tying the south-east embankment area into the existing road

• Realigning kerbing between Waterbrook Avenue and the national speed limit to the west of Avocet Way

• Removal of sections of existing central reservation

A spokeswoman for Crest Nicholson said: "We have managed to undertake more works offline than originally planned, allowing for traffic disruptions to be minimised and these highway works surrounding the Finberry development to be delivered on time.

"We are liaising closely with National Highways and Kent County Council to manage and mitigate any potential disruption.”

The A2070 Bad Munstereifel Road currently forms part of the 'official' six-mile Operation Brock diversion through Ashford.

Highways bosses say Brock will remain in place until after the Easter Bank Holiday weekend as a precaution to manage the flow of traffic to the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel.