The Dartford Crossing will be lit up in red, white and blue for the royal celebrations.

With excitement building ahead of the Jubilee weekend, the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, also known as the Dartford Bridge, will be illuminated in a sequence of shifting colours and different intensities of light for a total of six nights.

These will include eight lamp units – two on each tower – totalling to more than 320 bulbs altogether.

Three LED units will light up the monument on the Essex side and three more will light up the control room in Kent which manages traffic through the tunnels and over the bridge.

Nicola Bell, National Highways operations director, said: "As the nation gears up for a Jubilee weekend like no other, the Queen Elizabeth II bridge can now play a starring role in the region’s celebrations, starting off this week by being bathed in the national colours for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

"I would like to thank the commitment and generosity of all our partners, including Connect Plus and Port of London Authority in making this happen.

"I am sure the lighting up of this iconic landmark, will prove to be a lasting legacy, remembered for decades to come."

The bridge was opened by the Queen in October 1991 and was the first to be built at an entirely new location along the river Thames for more than 50 years.

For a short time it was also the longest single span bridge in Europe measuring over 2,872 metres long.

The lights were switched on at dusk yesterday and will remain on until Monday.