The hated permanent low speed limit for Dover TAP is over.

Highways England has finally confirmed that it finished this morning after two years.

The 40mph restriction was in place at all times even when the traffic control system Dover TAP (Traffic Assessment Project) was not in use.

A spokesman for Highways England said this afternoon: "Drivers using the A20 to Kent are benefitting from faster journeys this morning after the national speed limit was reinstated overnight.

"The work is part of an upgrade to a project known as Dover TAP, which helps relieve congestion in Dover town centre by managing peaks of traffic arriving at the port.

"It meets a commitment made by Highways England to restore the national speed limit ahead of the summer getaway."

Dover MP Charlie Elphicke, who campaigned against the restriction, said: "This is a huge victory for the people of Dover and Deal.

"We have battled relentlessly to scrap the hated 40mph limit on the A20.

“Highways England should have got this work finished much sooner. But at long last the speed limit is being lifted.

"This will be a huge relief to drivers across Dover and Deal. I would like to say thank you to every single resident who has written to me and Highways England to help our campaign.”

On July 7 Mr Elphicke had chaired at meeting at Aycliffe where he heard about traffic avoiding the restriction by using Capel-le-Ferne as a rat run.

The permanent restriction was unpopular because it made drivers travel artificially slowly even when it was safe to go up to the usual 70mph limit.

Drivers were fined if they went over the limit or were bullied into going faster by tailgaters if they stuck to it.

It had been in force since April 2015 but now will only be used when TAP is in place.

That has only been used 42 times in the first half of 2017.

The restriction affected the eastbound carriageway between the Round Hill Tunnels at Folkestone and Aycliffe in Dover.

This morning, hours before the official announcement, drivers had already reported that the 40mph speed limit signs were gone.

For further details see the story in tomorrow's Dover Mercury.