As the getaway for the Easter break begins and temperatures are set to top 20C across the county, officers from Highways England say they have lifted and complete miles of roadworks to help people travelling around the county over the holiday.

Officers are also reminding motorists to make sure their vehicles are ready for journeys.

To help those journeys flow as smoothly as possible, teams from the organisation have been working around the clock to remove miles of roadworks in time for the holiday period.

Scroll down to listen to Highways Officers

In Kent, works which have been completed include 10.94 miles of the A2 eastbound and westbound Dunkirk to Upper Harbledown.

Elsewhere, 4.25 miles of the M2 from Junction 3 for Chatham and the Blue Bell Hill interchange to Junction 5 for Sittingbourne and the A249.

And 0.07 miles of the M26 to A21 has also been completed along with various parts of roadworks on the M25 and at the Dartford east tunnel crossing.

However, the bridge works on the M2 in Medway will still be happening over the period.

And sections of the A2 will be closed from Saturday overnight for resurfacing works.

There will be a full closure of the eastbound carriageway between Ebbsfleet and Tollgate between 9pm through until 8am unitl Monday.

A signed diversion will be in place via the M25, M20 and A229.

Highways England research shows almost half of all breakdowns are caused by simple mechanical problems which could be avoided with simple checks and nearly a quarter are caused by tyre problems.

Melanie Clarke, Highways England customer service director said: "We’re doing everything we can to make journeys as smooth as possible this Easter and that’s why we’re keeping around 99% of the road network we manage, free from roadworks.

“Safety is our top priority and we know from experience that almost half of breakdowns can easily be avoided if motorists carry out simple vehicle checks before setting off over this period.”

In places the motorway and major A-road network will be free of roadworks from 6am today until just after midnight on Tuesday, April 23.

Highways England traffic officers will be working around the clock to help people who get into difficulty.

However, advice has been issued for motorists before they set off on their journeys.

Drivers should check fuel to make sure they have enough.

Tyre pressure and condition should also be checked as should engine oil and water and lights.

And if people are towing vehicles they should make sure they have the correct licence and insurance.

A series of specialist videos can be found here to help people carry out basic vehicle checks.

Highways England is also urging drivers to stay safe this Easter by adhering to motorway signage, including the red X signals on smart motorways.

Officers say they close lanes for a reason and drivers ignoring red X signs put themselves and others at risk.

And drivers planning to use the Dartford Crossing are reminded to pay the Dart Charge in advance or by midnight the day after crossing.

More information can be found on Highways England website or by calling the information line on 0300 1235000.

And breakdown cover provider, Green Flag says it predicts up to a 12% increase on the average number of breakdowns and incidents to occur on the nation's roads between today and Monday.

Green Flag is forecasting up to 159,254 breakdowns and 88,009 incidents during he period which translates to 22 breakdowns every minute.

And motorist heading for the Ashford area can take advantage of free parking for the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

Parking in all council-run car parks will be free and the council says there are lots of activities going on in the area.

And GPs are reminding patients to seek advice of a pharmacist if they need to as the heath experts on the high street will get people though most short-term illnesses.

Pharmacists can give advice and recommend treatments for common complaints, such as hay fever and coughs and colds.

You don’t need an appointment to speak to a pharmacist and most pharmacies have areas where you can have a private consultation.

And people who need a repeat prescription should try and remember not to get caught out by the bank holiday.

Selected pharmacies will be open across the county over the holiday period.

South East Coast Ambulance Service is also seeking the people's help as it expects the Easter break to be a busy one.

The trust has planned ahead for the expected increase in demand but is urging people to use the service wisely and to seek alternatives to 999 if not faced with a life-threatening or serious emergency.

Over the course of the Easter weekend last year, staff in the emergency operations centres in Crawley and Coxheath answered in excess of 8,000 calls.

Across the region the NHS 111 service also faced high demand handing some 25,000 calls in the four days.

During any period of high demand, works hard to prioritise its response to patients with the greatest need.

Anyone not facing a serious or life-threatening emergency is likely to wait longer for a response and those not facing a serious emergency are urged to consider alternatives such visiting a walk-in centre or speaking to a pharmacist.

The service's executive director of operations Joe Garcia said: “We know that Easter is a busy time of year for us and the wider NHS.

"With schools off and a long Bank Holiday weekend we are anticipating an increase in demand.

“With this in mind we’re urging the public to remember to only dial 999 if it’s they’re facing a life-threatening or serious emergency.

"We will be working hard to reach all patients who need a face-to-face assessment as quickly as possible but prioritising our response to our most seriously ill and injured patients.

“People can really help us by remembering to make use of alternatives to 999 including calling NHS 111, where staff will also be working hard to provide people with the assistance they need."

And pet owners are also being warned not to let their dogs eat Easter eggs after a dog swallowed a whole Kinder Surprise egg.

Vets are warning owners to keep all chocolate away from their pets as it is the main cause poisonings in dogs.

An eight-year-old Cocker Spaniel, Chester, had been unwell for weeks, giving vets serious concerns about the cause, before a scan finally revealed the problem.

It was the toy package from a Kinder Surprise Egg, still whole, the dog had found the chocolate egg and devoured the lot.

Following the operation, Chester spent a couple of days in the recovering, before being allowed home.

To find out about what events are going on across the county click here.