Drivers have been warned to "expect delays" this morning after a major motorway failed to reopen following overnight road works.

Junctions 7 and 8 on the M23 in Surrey near Gatwick Airport are currently closed in both directions due to roadworks that have passed their pre-agreed end time.

Due to the ongoing works, National Highways warned it cannot estimate a time of reopening for the busy motorway, which risks leaving drivers stuck.

Traffic has now been diverted away from the motorway, with drivers instructed to follow the route onto local roads.

National Highways is unable to give a time for reopening the junctions

National Highways shared: "If this closure impacts your planned route, please allow extra journey time.

"Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey."

Traffic in the nearby area is operating at slower-than-usual speeds, with drivers travelling roughly 28mph due to the delays.

The motorway links Brighton to London and skips past the M25 and Gatwick Airport, making the M23 a busy route to travel down.

The junction has been closed near Gatwick Airport

According to the RAC, junction 8 has been recorded as a tricky junction for its complex pathway that flows traffic onto the M25 and continues onto the M23 into Croydon and London.

It’s one of the main junctions on the M23, so it has to deal with heavy congestion, especially during peak times.

The RAC warned: "Make sure you’re mindful of the influx of traffic and find your lane early. The M23 is a relatively small motorway with big plans to update its troublesome junctions. While these are being completed, do take care.

"The M23 is the main route into Gatwick Airport, with many commuters and holidaymakers using the network daily. Because of this, there are always plans to improve the road conditions, which may cause short-term congestion."

In the past few years, there have been several reported accidents between junctions 8 and 9, which the RAC attributed to the growing number of road users coming off the M25 to move towards Gatwick.

To avoid being stuck in delays, drivers should look for any reported M23 traffic news and take care coming off and on the junction.

Road works have caused delays this morning