Motorists have been warned to expect delays this weekend as a major traffic operation causes road closures across the southeast of England.

National Highways has revealed plans to close several key junctions of the M20 to allow Operation Brock to be removed for drivers.

The traffic measure was put in place in July to help alleviate pressure near the Port of Dover and requires HGVs and other large vehicles to follow diverted routes.

The agency now plans on removing the scheme, with drivers warned of road closures between Junction 8 in Maidstone and Junction 9 in Ashford from 8pm on Sunday, August 17, until 6am on Monday, August 18.

Operation Brock can cause significant disruptions to drivers travelling to the coast

The contraflow system spans a 13-mile section of the M20 and helps ensure the smooth flow of traffic through the region near the English Channel.

To help drivers, National Highways has put a fully signed diversion route in place while the M20 is closed overnight.

National Highways shared: "These times have been chosen to minimise disruption to road users and ensure the roads are suitable for the traffic. Drivers are advised to follow the diversion signs over their Sat Nav instructions.

"Once removed, both carriageways will re-open with three lanes and the national speed limit back in place."

The M20 frequently gets closed to allow National Highways to put traffic measures in place near Dover

While the operation is in place, drivers of larger vehicles have been urged to follow the diversion, as failure to comply could result in a hefty penalty.

The Department for Transport explained that when Operation Brock is in force, HGVs travelling to the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel must use the signed routes only.

"Enforcement officials will be deployed to intercept vehicles trying to use alternative routes," the DfT warned, with drivers risking a £300 fine for avoiding the signed routes.

Kent County Councillor Simon Jones said: "If Op Brock is not in use and there are delays at the Port of Dover, this has a knock-on effect on the surrounding roads - causing unjustified disruption to local communities. This decision is not taken lightly and is informed by data, which tells us we are very likely to see increased traffic heading to Europe."

He stated that the council tries to "enable people to get where they want to be as safely and as quickly as possible". However, he warned that until more permanent solutions are found to tackle disruption on Kent's roads, Operation Brock is "the only tool we have to keep traffic moving through the county".

Despite the contraflow system being put in place to ease traffic flows, the regular road closures have become a problem for drivers.

Last month, Labour MP Sojan Joseph held a debate in the House of Commons following a landmark petition to the Kent County Council.

The MP for Ashford told the House that the constituents do not object to Brock being deployed in emergencies, but "it is still being regularly deployed as a precautionary measure".

National Highways will close the M20 on Sunday evening to allow the contraflow system to be removed

He said: "The decision by Kent County Council and the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum to queue freight lorries on the M20 during the school holidays caused a severe disruption for local residents and businesses and is hugely expensive.

"The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Transport Select Committee to launch an inquiry into the decisions taken by Kent County Council and the Kent and Medway Resilience Forum to regularly deploy Operation Brock, and into what work is being undertaken to find a long-term alternative."

In response, the Department for Transport said it recognises the impact Operation Brock has on residents, "which is why we're working closely with partners to improve safety, reduce local impacts and develop longer-term traffic management solutions".

The transport body explained that it was looking at using technology and off-road sites for holding HGVs when there is disruption on the "short straits", which could help reduce the need for road closures.