A busy section of the M25 in Kent has officially become a 'smart motorway' this morning - with the hard shoulder now being used by motorists as an extra lane.

The changes between junctions 5 at Sevenoaks and 7 in Surrey - which is used by 140,000 drivers a day - are designed to improve journeys by reducing congestion.

The move follows the opening of a similar “smart” section between junctions 23 and 25 earlier this month.

Ten additional emergency refuges have been created for those who break-down on the road and the section will be monitored by 38 CCTV cameras.

Highways Agency project manager John Martin said: “The improvements on the M25 are part of the £1.7 bn investment into roads in the South East by 2021.

“The new smart motorway will provide extra capacity and offer more reliable journeys for the 140,000 drivers that use this stretch of road every day.”

This section of “smart” motorway has cost £129m and took just short of a year to complete.

Further details from www.highways.gov.uk