Maintenance work on a section of the M20 will start tonight.

The work, to be carried out by the Highways Agency, will see parts of the motorway closed overnight for a 10-week period.

The project will see the traffic lights on the roundabout at junction 10 replaced to maintain journey reliability and reduce the likelihood of emergency repairs in the future.

Several lanes will be closed while the lights are replaced and pedestrian crossings will be closed to ensure safety.

Highways Agency project sponsor Anita Waterton said: “The existing lights help to increase the capacity of this busy roundabout and need to be replaced to ensure the junction continues to operate safely and efficiently.

“Without the traffic lights the safety and capacity of the roundabout would be reduced.

“We have planned the replacement to be carried out overnight, when traffic flows are lowest, to minimise disruption.”

The work will be carried out between 8pm and 6am, and will involve various lane closures on the approach roads and on the roundabout itself.

A diversion will be in place to junction 9 via Willesborough Road and the A28 while work is carried out by the London-bound entry slip road.

During the replacement, the traffic lights will remain off at all times and pedestrian crossings will be closed for safety reasons.

Pedestrians will be diverted to use other footpaths where necessary.

The work is due to be completed, weather permitting, by the end of March.