Eight months of traffic hell in Ashford is set to finally end when a road closure is lifted next week.

Contractors shut Newtown Road at the junction with Romney Marsh Road in April to remove two roundabouts and fit traffic lights instead.

The 32-week closure has caused long delays for drivers, but bosses have now confirmed the road will reopen to traffic on Wednesday, November 28.

The works are part of the £90 million expansion of the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, which will see 50 new shops added to the site.

Cllr David Smith, ward member for South Willesborough, says the reopening of the road will be a “tremendous relief”.

The Ashford Independent, of Royds Road, said: “It has been awful.

“With the junction closed, our natural way out from Newtown has been through the Orbital Park but with the junction 10a works, it has been terrible.

“People have been going through Willesborough, which has put a lot of pressure on Osborne Road and other streets.”

In April, transport chiefs at Ashford Borough Council (ABC) said they did not know Newtown Road would be closed for eight months until reading about it in the Kentish Express.

Godinton Park councillor Bernard Heyes - who was the chairman of ABC’s joint transportation board at the time - said he was not made aware of the works.

Cllr Smith added: “It has been an absolute nightmare.

“We will be glad to see the back of it.

“I can appreciate, having looked at the plans, why the outlet is doing it, but it was a complete shock for us at the time.

“I don’t know what will happen, but it looks a reasonably good design as traffic lights will make it easier to get onto the roundabout.”

McArthurGlen first announced plans to expand the Designer Outlet in 2014, and secured planning approval from ABC in September 2015.

It is the first time the outlet has been extended since it opened in 2000.

Once completed, the 100,000 sq ft extension will add a further 50 units to the store and an additional 725 parking spaces.

It is due to open next spring.

McDonalds has announced it will not be returning to the site and earlier in the month the new look playground was revealed.

Centre manager Peter Corr said: "The improvement works taking place on roads and pedestrian walkways surrounding the centre are progressing according to the construction schedule set out by our partners, McLaren and Walkers Construction.

"The closed portion of the road - Newtown Road at the junction with Romney Marsh Road - is due to reopen on November 28.

"Once opened, it will be easier and safer for people to move between Ashford International, the town centre and the Designer Outlet."