Disruption due on M25 and M1 as power station equipment moved

The 350-tonne equipment will take 12 hours to be transported the 79-mile journey

Motorists are being warned to expect delays overnight on the M25 and M1 this weekend when a large piece of equipment is moved to a power station.

The load will be taken from the Port of Tilbury in Essex to Millbrook power station in Bedfordshire from Saturday afternoon into Sunday.

Organisers said the 79-mile (127km) journey was the last of three pieces of equipment for the station.

Traffic will be held by police at stages of the journey.

Motorists in Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire are likely to be affected if travelling on the motorways between 16:00 BST when the load leaves Tilbury, and about midday Sunday when it arrives at its destination.

"These are essential pieces of equipment for the power station that, when completed, will have the capacity to generate power to provide enough instant electricity to power 150,000 households," a spokesman for the Millbrook power station said.

"Due to the complexity of transporting such a load, we're expecting this to impact on journeys, so please plan ahead if travelling on the M25 or M1 during this time."

The equipment will be accompanied by a police escort.

What closures are planned?

• The M25 between Jjnction 21a and junction 19 will be closed in both directions between 22:00 and 06:00 BST. A diversion will be in place

• The exit slips from the M1 onto the M25 at junction 6a will be closed in both directions between 22:00 and 06:00. A diversion will be in place

• The entry slip from the A12 onto the M25 anti-clockwise at junction 28 will be closed between 20:00 and 05:00

• There will be a temporary holding delay of about 30 minutes at the Gallows Corner roundabout on the A12, and this is likely to be at about 22:00