THOUSANDS of Kent motorists faced major delays as a procession of 80-tonne low-loader trucks, moving at a maximum speed of 15mph, travelled on key routes in the county.

The seven-vehicle convoy, travelling from Dartford to Benenden Hospital, began it journey late on Thursday afternoon.

It is the largest ever convoy to be escorted through Kent. The abnormal load, carrying two new operating theatres for the hospital at Benenden, was split into sections nearly six metres wide and up to 19 metres long.

Some traffic islands, bollards and roadside barriers along the route were removed.

Police warned people not to park in Headcorn High Street so as to avoid damage to their cars as the convoy passed by.

Ch Insp Mark Nottage, in charge of the policing operation, said: "Because of the convoy's sheer size and weight it could only be moved in daylight."

The operating theatres are expected to be lifted into position, between the hospital’s current theatre and its outpatient department, by a 1,000-tonne crane this weekend.

The theatres, which include anaesthetic and scrub areas, are arriving partly-built from Germany. Air-conditioning units and medical gas supply pipes will simply have to “plug in” to the hospital’s existing system.

They will be ready for surgical operations within six weeks, it is thought.

Benenden Hospital director Ken Hesketh said: “We and our patients get a double benefit from this contract with Medi-cell Solutions, the makers of the theatres.

“We get the theatres up and working much faster than using a conventional-build solution – which would take up to six months to erect and fit out – and we save money.

“In addition, with systems to circulate ultra-clean air above the operating table, we can carry out more complex operations, particularly in orthopaedics.”