A Kent MP says that Operation Brock could be lifted within days.

Faversham and Mid Kent MP Helen Whately said she had been told by Highways England that a decision was imminent.

She tweeted:"I've called on Highways England to lift OpBrock asap given Brexit extension - told they are considering lifting it in next couple of days."

The controversial scheme that involves a contra-flow along the London-bound M20 between Ashford and Maidstone has been in place for the last three weeks and has been criticised by some as unsafe.

Highways England has come under pressure as a result of the news that the government will now have until October 31 to negotiate a Brexit deal.

Calls for the scheme to be “deactivated” have followed the news that the EU has granted an extension to the government.

Speaking before the announcement, Ashford MP Damian Green said: “If we are definitely not leaving at the end of this week then I see no reason to continue with Operation Brock and I hope it can be lifted as soon as possible."

Opposition Liberal Democrat leader on Kent County Council Rob Bird said that Highways England should act immediately to lift Operation Brock: “It is disruptive it is dangerous; it is not working effectively or efficiently and we should get rid of it.”

Highways England has previously said that it was keeping the scheme under a review on a day-by-day basis.

It has also emphasised that it cannot de-activate Operation Brock at the flick of a switch. When it was first put in place, there were several overnight closures on the M20 to install the barrier.

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