Demolition work to remove a footbridge will close part of the M20 for a full weekend next month.

Highways England plans to remove Teapot Lane footbridge and install a taller bridge as part of its Smart Motorway improvement scheme.

The bridge was supposed to be destroyed and rebuilt in time for the start of the new school year next week - but plans were put on hold after clashing with the start of the summer holidays.

Work to remove the bridge in Aylesford will close the M20 from junction four (Leybourne) to six (Maidstone, Blue Bell Hill) from around 10pm on Friday, September 14 to 5am on Monday, September 17.

The closure is set to disrupt events including Paws in the Park, which last year brought 20,000 people to the Kent Showground in Detling.

Leeds Castle is also hosting its annual Flower Festival on the same weekend.

Pedestrians will be without the footbridge from Thursday, September 13 until it is replaced on Monday, November 12.

Replacement works will close the same stretch of motorway from November 9 to the 12.

A walking diversion will take pedestrians and cyclists across the M20 via Station Road bridge.

The result is a longer walk in for some pupils heading to Aylesford School and Aylesford Primary School, both on Teapot Lane.

A Highways England spokesman said: "The dates have been selected to avoid high risk weekends such as the weekends of October 20 and 27 as this is the half term break and a very high volume of traffic is expected - even greater than during the summer.

"The weekend of November 3 is also problematic as it is bonfire night and that can cause risks to visibility.

"We are conscious that this means a seven week period for the primary and secondary school pupils, parents and staff situated on Teapot Lane to make a detour, taking into account the October half term, and we apologise for the impact this will have.

"We have informed the schools of the dates and will be discussing how to minimise disruption to school journeys with them."

"Installation of a temporary crossing was considered but due to the limited space available this is not feasible."

As well as increasing the height of the footbridge's deck, Highways England will also be converting the hard shoulder between junction four and six into a live lane.

Local motorists are being encouraged to use the A228, M2 and A229 during the closures while those travelling further distances can use the A2 and M2.