Drivers are being warned of serious delays as part of the A12 will be closed this weekend. 

National Highways says those travelling should allow extra time for their journeys due to the closure of the southbound carriageway at Marks Tey, near Colchester, which will be in place from 6am on Saturday until 8pm on Sunday. 

It will affect drivers heading from Suffolk and south Essex to London.

The closure comes as the Premier League returns for the first game the season, with fans travelling to matches in London or to and from Ipswich Town's home fixture against Liverpool. 

When a closure was put in place on the northbound carriageway last year in June and September drivers were met with serious delays and a decision was taken to remove the planned closure for a weekend to minimise traffic.

The closure will require all southbound traffic to be diverted up and over junction 25 via the exit slip road and to re-enter via the following entry slip road. 

Additional traffic signals will also be in place at the Prince of Wales roundabout and Stane Retail Park.

National Highways say that further overnight closures will be announced for the A12 shortly to allow workers to finish the final section of the old concrete road.