Drivers wishing to access part of the M20 are to face a huge diversion as part of a new eight week programme of roadworks.

Hythe Road in Ashford is to shut near the junction with Church Road from July 7.

The route, which connects the town centre to Junction 10 of the motorway, is forecast to be out-of-bounds next to Budgens petrol station.

The work is the next phase of SGN and UK Power Network's combined six-month project across Willesborough and Sevington.

The latest closure - estimated to end between about August 17 and August 30 - means residents in Highfield next to Budgens will now face a 3.5 mile diversion to access Junction 10 of the M20.

Motorists will have to drive along Boys Hall Road and through Ashford Orbital Park, before using Bad Munstereifel Road (A2070) to get on the carriageway.

A statement released by SGN explained: “In consultation with Kent County Council, we have arranged to bring forward the following phase of our project.

“We’ll be working from the junction with Church Road and Lees Road to outside number 425A Hythe Road.

“For everyone’s safety, we’ll need to close Hythe Road around our work site.

“During this time, there will be no access to Lees Road, Silver Hill Road, or Church Road from Hythe Road.

“This is to allow UK Power Networks to complete their work on Hythe Road before the end of the school summer holidays.

“We thank the Willesborough community for their continued patience and understanding while we carry out these essential works.”

Access for Lees Road and Silver Hill Road residents during the closure will be via Kennington Road (A2070).

The one-way order on Silver Hill Road will also be removed to allow access to affected properties.

Signed diversion routes will be in place for affected motorists.

Both utility companies originally started work on the project on a 1.7-mile stretch of Kennington Road from the Julie Rose Stadium to near the William Harvey Hospital.

Getting underway on March 3, the "essential upgrades" are to eventually end at Sevington’s Waterbrook Park in summer 2026.

It comes as work continues in Church Road to install electricity cables.

This set of works started on May 6 and is to end on June 6 - one day before the closure in Hythe Road begins.

Cllr Liz Wright says neighbours continue to raise fears about all of the closures.

The Green Party representative for Willesborough Lees said: “Getting to places like the Women’s Institute has been difficult with the closures.

“They have been causing havoc and there have been a lot of concerns and worries about the disruption.

“I live just off Hythe Road and will have to drive different ways now, and of course it will be even worse for people on Highfield.”