A full weekend closure of the M2, which was set to pile traffic misery on motorists as temperatures soar into the 30s, has been postponed.

A 12-mile stretch of the London-bound carriageway was due to be shut between Junction 7 for Brenley Corner and Faversham and Junction 5 for Sittingbourne, Sheppey and Maidstone from 8pm on Friday to 6am on Monday.

But highways bosses have now confirmed the closure - to enable bridge repair works on the motorway - has been put off, with a new date yet to be set.

It comes after two full weekend closures of the coast-bound stretch in May, and another of the London-bound side earlier this month.

National Highways could not give a reason for the postponement.

A message on its website says: "Update!: The closure was scheduled to take place Friday 15 July until 6am on Monday 18 July - but this has now been cancelled. There'll be a new date for this work later this year."

The news is likely to be welcomed by anyone planning on heading to the coast this weekend - which is expected to be the hottest of the year so far, with temperatures rising into the 30s.

The closure would have affected many beachgoers' journeys home, with drivers sent on a 72-mile diversion around east and central Kent.

The travel misery was set to be compounded by closures on the M20 for Operation Brock, which has been in place since Monday ahead of the big summer holiday getaway.

The system involving lorries queuing on the M20 is aimed at ensuring the smooth flow of traffic when there is disruption to services across the Channel.

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