Bollards designed to defend Canterbury city centre from a vehicle-based terror attack will be activated later this month - four weeks after the original schedule.

The city council, which has devised the £800,000 project following advice from experts, is warning of potential traffic disruption as people get used to how the system operates.

The introduction of the blockades on Monday, November 23 comes after static bollards were installed last year.

In total, combining the static and automated barriers, there are more than 100 dotted across the city at 18 different locations.

Once up and running, access to the city will be strictly governed by CCTV control room staff who will monitor an intercom system all day, every day.

Their introduction will be staggered, with the system being switched on at different locations and at different times of the day and night in order to assess its effects on traffic, and to see who is abiding by the rules.

The period between 10.30am and 4pm will be a strict no-go for a number of vehicle types, with delivery drivers and commercial waste contractors having to ensure they arrive in the city outside of those hours.

Technical troubles had delayed the start of the project, but the authority is confident the problems have been sorted.

Council chief executive Colin Carmichael said: “Installing the very latest technology in a medieval city such as ours was always going to pose unforeseeable and unique challenges and there may be more to come.

“We apologise for the delay and any inconvenience it may have caused.

“While nationally the government has increased the terrorism threat level to severe suggesting an attack somewhere in the UK is highly likely, there is no specific intelligence to say Canterbury is at immediate risk.

“This very complicated project has always been about taking expert police advice to keep everyone in the city centre as safe as we possibly can.

'Installing the very latest technology in a medieval city such as ours was always going to pose unforeseeable and unique challenges...'

“While the bollards will be switched on during this lockdown, there is still the possibility of some traffic disruption as people get used to how the system operates and the fact rules, that have been in force in some form for 40 years, are about to be enforced more effectively than ever before.

“Because businesses and residents are still having to cope with the pandemic, we are sticking to our decision to have a phased launch so we can fix unforeseen problems as we go and will have people on the ground to help drivers during key periods."

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