DRIVERS are being warned to give themselves extra time if travelling on the M25 for the next two days due to urgent safety repairs.

A road collision this morning has caused significant damage to barriers on the anti-clockwise carriageway between junction 31, for Lakeside Shopping Centre, and junction 30, for the A13.

Lane one of the anti-clockwise carriageway at junction 31 will remain closed until 10pm as a safety precaution.

Then, from 10pm tonight until 5.30am on Friday, the entire anti-clockwise carriageway will close between junctions 31 and 30, with diversions in place via the exit slip road.

Drivers planning to use the M25 at the Dartford crossing and surrounding roads are advised of closures on the anticlockwise carriageway tonight and tomorrow as Highways England makes urgent safety repairs following an earlier road traffic collision.

From Friday morning, three narrow lanes will be open past the scene, to help drivers with their journeys.

The anti-clockwise carriageway will also close on Friday night at 11pm, until 6am on Saturday, to complete the barrier repair.

The road is planned to be open fully on Saturday morning at 6am.

A clearly signed diversion will be in place during both closures via the exit slip road at junction 31 and the northbound link road to junction 30.

A Highways England spokesman said: "The closures are necessary due to safety concerns following an earlier collision, which caused barrier damage above the live lane of the roundabout that runs underneath the junction.

"Highways England staff are working hard to repair the damage and get traffic back to normal on the Dartford Crossing.

"We are advising drivers to check the latest conditions before setting out and to allow extra time for their journeys if they are affected by this incident.

"Before setting out on journeys drivers should check travel conditions. Highways England provides live traffic information via its website www.trafficengland.com, local and national radio travel bulletins, electronic road signs and mobile apps. Information is also available from Twitter as well as services in other regions.

"Providing they can do so safely, road users can also call the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000 to keep up to date with traffic conditions."