A £172,000 programme of concrete repairs will cause hold-ups on a section of the M11 which runs through Essex.

The Highways Agency announced yesterday that it plans to start work on Tuesday between junctions 8 and 9.

The work is expected to take five weeks.

Contractors will be repairing and replacing individual concrete bays on both north and southbound carriageways over a six-mile stretch of road between Bishop's Stortford and Saffron Walden.

Highways Agency area manager John Pearman said: "The work is essential to maintain the safety of this busy motorway.

"We are keen to keep disruption to a minimum but some delays are possible and I would advise drivers to allow extra time for their journeys or to consider alternative travel arrangements."

To try to avoid too many jams, the work will be carried out through the night with contraflows in operation from 8pm to 6am.

During the day, two lanes will be open in each direction, but traffic will be diverted away from the normal lanes.

Mr Pearman said: "It will be necessary to use the hard shoulder while the work is being carried out and for safety reasons a temporary 40mph speed limit will be in force.

"The contraflows will change from time to time as the work progresses so drivers should pay particular attention to the signs displayed on approaches to the work."

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