A multi-million-pound scheme to widen a busy motorway bridge has been approved.

The proposal to widen the M20 junction 4 eastern bridge over the A228 near Leybourne was approved without objection at a Kent County Council environment and transport cabinet committee meeting last week.

The £4.8million project will see the bridge widened from two to three lanes.

The decision came in light of recommendations set out in a report by KCC cabinet member for environment and transport Cllr David Brazier.

Cllr Brazier said that the work, which is scheduled to start in early 2016, is necessary to ease traffic build up especially considering housing development and job creation in the area.

The committee heard how the scheme did not require planning permission or acquiring extra land and that little disruption to the local community would be caused, with the nearest house 250m away.

KCC will now ask the Department for Transport to approve £2.19million of central government funding which was pledge in July.

The western bridge was increased to four lanes in 2006 to accommodate extra traffic.