Plans to deploy Operation Brock on the M20 have been delayed by heavy snowfall.

The dreaded contraflow had been due to be brought back between Ashford and Maidstone this morning, but has been postponed following heavy flurries.

Roads around the county have been gridlocked following the snowfall yesterday and overnight, with gritters and snow ploughs working through the night to try and free stranded cars.

The M20 had been closed in sections between Junction 7 for Maidstone and Junction 9 for Ashford to allow workers to bring back Brock in anticipation of the Christmas season.

Last night was due to be the last closure, with the contraflow on the London-bound carriageway due to be fully open this morning at 6am.

However, the snow and freezing temperatures meant there was no way for workers to safely complete the work.

A National Highways spokesperson confirmed the final night's operation – between Junctions 9 and 8 London-bound and Junctions 7 to 9 coastbound – has been postponed.

Follow live updates on today's traffic chaos here

"Details of the rearranged closure will be published in due course," they added.

When finally reinstalled, the altered road layout sees lorries heading to the coast use one side of the M20 while all other traffic is restricted to a contraflow system on the opposite side.

This means that motorists travelling this direction won't be delayed if there are large numbers of HGVs heading to the ports.

Lorries going to mainland Europe are legally required to follow the signed HGV routes to the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel when Brock is on.