Operation Brock on the M20 is to be lifted - with work scheduled to start at 8pm tonight.

Highways England has confirmed that part of the M20 will be closed overnight while work to remove the contra-flow system is carried out.

Road bosses expects the work to be completed by the start of next week.

The news will be welcomed by drivers, businesses and residents.

However, while the contraflow installed on the M20 between Ashford and Maidstone will no longer be in place, the barrier used to separate the lanes will remain, along with a 50mph speed limit.

Highways England said it hoped the work would be completed in time for the Easter getaway next weekend.

The decision was taken in the light of the reduced threat of disruption to services across the English Channel in the coming weeks and has been endorsed by the Kent Resilience Forum.

In a statement, special operations director Duncan Smith said:“The deployment of the contraflow on the M20 has been a prudent measure reflecting the threat of potential disruption.

"Scaling it back now is a sensible response to the changing outlook, and restores capacity on the motorway in time for the Easter bank holiday weekend.

"Scaling it back now is a sensible response to the changing outlook, and restores capacity on the motorway in time for the Easter bank holiday weekend" - Duncan Smith

"We are grateful to drivers and residents in Kent for their patience while the contraflow is in place and for driving safely.”

A steel barrier which was installed on the London-bound carriageway to implement the contraflow between junction 8 and junction 9 will remain in place should Operation Brock be required again in the coming months.

Once the contraflow is deactivated there will be three lanes running coastbound at national speed limit and two lanes running London-bound at 50mph.

The contraflow on the London-bound carriageway will remain in place while work begins on taking out the hundreds of cones in place.

During the overnight closures clearly signed diversions will be in place. London-bound closures will be between junctions 10 and junction 7, with a diversion in place via A20.

Coastbound closures will be between junction 7 and 9 with a diversion via the A249 and the M2. Only one carriageway will be closed at any one time.

The first closure will be on the coastbound carriageway tonight between 8pm and 6am.