Drivers will face delays in Ashford next week when work starts on the Chart Road dual carriageway.

Contractors will start preparation work for the long-awaited multi-million pound project on Monday, which will turn the A28 between the Tank roundabout and Matalan into a dual carriageway.

Vegetation and trees affected by the £26million scheme will be cleared before the start of the bird nesting season.

The clearance will take about four weeks and stop and go boards will be brought in to manage traffic when vegetation close to the road is being cleared.

Kent County Council says the use of stop and go boards will be restricted to off-peak hours to minimise delays.

The scheme is being funded from contributions by housing developers so the town can cope with more cars travelling from the 5,750-home Chilmington Green housing development.

The Tank and Matalan roundabouts will both be improved and the railway bridge by the former Chart Leacon rail depot will also be widened.

Last month, traders raised fears over gridlock when construction starts on the stretch.

KCC spokesman Thom Morris said: "We will be providing replacement landscaping after the completion of the widening works that will see an increase in the overall number of trees along the route.

"Rather than disposing of the wood, KCC will be creating opportunities for local charities and local craftspeople by reusing as much of the wood as practical."

If anyone knows of a good cause in the area that could make use of the wood, contact Carole Jones at ChartRoadfeedback@jackson-civils.co.uk

Works are due to be completed by autumn 2019.

More details about when full construction will begin will be released shortly.