Drivers will need to plan ahead as a series of overnight closures begin at the Dartford Crossing.

Scheduled maintenance will be starting on the QEII Bridge tonight (Saturday).

National Highways will shut the route from 10pm until 5am on Sunday.

It is so routine safety inspections and maintenance can be carried out.

A diversion for Kent-bound traffic will be in place via the east tunnel.

Most vehicles heading towards Essex will be able to use the west tunnel during the closure.

However, those between 4.8 and 5 metres high will need to follow the diversion via the M25 clockwise.

Meanwhile, further closures are to take place throughout next week.

The east tunnel is to shut each night from 10pm until 5am from Sunday (April 7) to Friday (April 12).

And it will close again from April 15 until April 17 during the same hours.

The west tunnel, previously scheduled to close overnight on these dates, will remain open.

The change has been made to allow resurfacing work to be safely completed on the M25 anti-clockwise carriageway between Junctions 30 and 29.

Additional closures will take place from 10pm until 5am next Saturday (April 13) in the west tunnel, and from the same hours next Sunday (April 14) in the east tunnel.

All closures are due to an extensive maintenance programme at the Crossing.

Contractors are working to repair and renew components such as ventilation systems, signage, drainage, steelwork and pipework, cabinets, railings and electrical equipment.

CCTV upgrades are also being carried out in both tunnels.