Hundreds of bus and train services are being cancelled across Kent this week by strikes set to cause huge disruption to travellers.

More than 600 bus drivers employed by Arriva, and thousands of train drivers and railway staff are stepping-up industrial action because of unresolved disputes over pay.

The bus drivers, based at depots in Northfleet, Gillingham, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, will strike this week on Thursday and Friday, October 6 and 7.

This is between two planned national train strikes on Wednesday and again on Saturday (October 8) by the RMT and train drivers union ASLEF. All Southeastern trains in the county have been cancelled today (Wednesday) with the operator expecting to run a very limited service at the weekend.

With rail services expected to be disrupted on both the day of each 24-hour walkout and the late evenings and early mornings either side, network operators are asking passengers to only travel on Kent's trains if it is absolutely necessary.

The walk out by Kent bus drivers, who through their union Unite are demanding a 12.3% pay rise in line with inflation, is expected to cause disruption to passengers across north and west Kent as well as affecting thousands of school pupils who use Arriva services to travel to and from school.

If issues remain unresolved, two further strikes are also planned for Monday, October 10 and Tuesday, October 11, while Arriva, says it "remained committed" to resolving the industrial action in Kent and will keep passengers up to date with live service updates on strike days here.

The country is currently in the midst of a tidal wave of strike action from employees across various sectors.

Alongside transport workers, Post Office staff have announced 19 days of action, 999 call operators and BT workers are also planning walkouts and the Royal College of Nursing is expected to open its postal ballot over possible strike action this week, having abandoned its original ballot period because of the Queen's death.

Kevin Lindsay, Aslef Regional Organiser, said employees have had enough with salaries that don't reflect the rising cost of living.

He said: "Workers have had enough of bosses paying themselves huge dividends and salaries whilst expecting workers to take real terms wage cuts.

"We are delighted to be standing shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in the RMT and CWU who are also facing the same fight and struggle as our members.

"We will also stand together and show our solidarity with other workers in struggle."

Drivers in Kent faced travel chaos this weekend when road and motorway closures coincided with Saturday's national rail strike.

The London-bound carriageway of the M2 was closed between junction 7 for Faversham and junction 5 for Sittingbourne for resurfacing - alongside ongoing M2 coastbound closures at junction 5 as work to remodel the Stockbury roundabout continues - leaving motorists stuck in hours of delays and lengthy diversions.

Eight weeks of disruption is also being warned about in Maidstone as Kent County Council starts work to try and lessen congestion on one of the key routes into the county town, while also starting this weekend - parts of the A249 are also set to be closed for 10 weekends.

The double whammy of closures throughout October, November and December will be on both the Maidstone and Sheppey-bound carriageways between Bobbing and Sittingbourne and will take place alongside existing M2 coastbound closures connected to the same improvement scheme.