Delays for drivers travelling from Suffolk to London have been brought forward as the A12 will now close earlier than initially expected. 

National Highways has now confirmed that disruption on the A12 at Mark Tey near Colchester will start from 8pm on Friday as the southbound carriageway will be closed from junction 25 to  junction 26.

A spokesman said the closure will take place to allow workers to install the roadworks.

It also confirmed that the same stretch of road will also now be closed from 8pm until 6am on Monday, to allow the roadworks to be removed.

This comes after it was announced earlier this week that the southbound carriageway will be closed from on Saturday and Sunday.

The closures, which will now last three days in total, will affect drivers heading from Suffolk to London.

This comes as the Premier League returns for the first game of the season, with fans travelling to matches in London and fans travelling from the Ipswich game to experience delays. 

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

On Saturday and Sunday, traffic will be diverted off the A12 at junction 25 via the southbound exit slip road.