Drivers will be sent on massive detours during two months of road works on the Thanet Way with overnight closures in place until the middle of March.

The eight-week project to carry out essential works, which started on Saturday, January 26, is being carried out in three phases between Herne Bay and Minster services.

Kent County Council (KCC) says the works to strengthen and resurface the carriageway on the A299 require the overnight closures.

The first phase of work has started on the stretch of the A299 between St Nicholas and Monkton.

After this phase is completed the section between Monkton and Minster will then be closed until February 23 - with motorists being told to take a 10-mile detour through Birchington, Margate and Westwood Cross.

Following these works, the A299 will be closed on the coastbound carriageway between Herne Bay - at the Eddington interchange - and St Nicholas at Wade roundabout for another four weeks from Saturday, February 23.

Drivers will have to travel additional 18 miles on their journey during the official 24-mile diversion through Herne, Sturry, Hersden and Sarre before rejoining the Thanet Way.

Slip-roads on the northern side of the A299 will be closed throughout the works.

A public notice issued by KCC said: "These works are part of an extensive resurfacing programme which is subject to weather and other factors that may potentially cause changes at short notice; every effort will be made to keep as close as possible to the planned dates."

The overnight closures will run for consecutive nights from 8pm to 6am each night with diversions being put in place, KCC has warned.

A diversion is in place on Canterbury Road through Birchington, past Hartsdown Academy and turning right past the QEQM hospital to Westwood Cross and joining the A256 at Haine Road and then rejoining the A299 at Hengist Way.

While work is carried out on the Canterbury Road West section all Thanet-bound traffic on A253 Ramsgate Road and Canterbury Road will be diverted via Sarre and Canterbury Road through Birchington to join the main diversion route.

KCC's notice about the St Nicholas to Minster section says: "Only one section of road closed will be closed at any one time to ensure the roundabouts themselves remain open."