The weekend closures of the coastbound A2 between Brenley Corner and Canterbury which have frustrated drivers and blighted businesses are over.

The Highways Agency says the vital repairs have been completed three weeks ahead of schedule and the busy route will be open this weekend.

The closures began on October 3 and the work was due to continue to December 1.

It resulted in drivers having to take lengthy detours of up to 40 miles to get to Dover while some HGVs looking for shortcuts caused jams in country lanes.

The closures also resulted in much heavier traffic using the A290 through Blean and Rough Common to get to Canterbury.

Among the businesses to suffer was the Texaco garage and Sheila's Kitchen at Dunkirk.

Cafe owner Sheila Feaver said: "It's a big relief because even though we are on the opposite carriageway, it meant customers coming from the Faversham direction could not get to us and we found our takings were hit hard."

Also pleased to see the road re-open is fruit haulier Vaughan Howland whose business at Boughton was was badly hit because the slip road to the village off the A2 was closed.

He said: "To be honest, it's been an absolute pain for us and our drivers who have had a right run around.

"It's not often you hear of a job like this being done ahead of schedule so good on them and we look forward to getting back to operating normally again."