A stretch of the M20 will be closed overnight during the next few weeks while works take place - with drivers being sent on a 64-mile diversion.

The stretch of the coastbound carriageway will be shut on week nights starting next week and leading up to the week before Christmas.

Closures will take place between J7 at Maidstone and A249 and J9 for Ashford and A251 from Monday, November 28 until Tuesday, December 20.

But National Highways bosses have advised of a 64-mile detour route to avoid the closure while works take place.

The official diversion will be in place via the M20 junction 6, A229, M2, A2, A20 and M20 to offer the best alternative route during this time.

For the first few days of the project - from November 28 to December 2 - the road will be closed between 9pm and 5am each week night.

From December 5, it will be closed from 8pm to 6am until works are completed on December 20.

Junction 7 at Detling will be open for local traffic.

A National Highways spokesman said: "We’ll soon be carrying out work to improve the road surface, and reduce the risk of skidding, on a section of the M20 coastbound between junctions 8 and 9. This work will also reduce the noise from vehicles driving on this stretch.

"This work will be completed overnight when there is less traffic the road."

The section from J8 to J9 is already reduced to two lanes with a 50mph speed limit while a project to install a permanent storage space for the contraflow barriers when Operation Brock is not force is completed.

That work is set to end in January.