Drivers travelling on the M25 near Upminster are now able to drive at 70mph again.

Road widening work between junctions 29 and 30 has been completed six weeks ahead of schedule by the Highways Agency.

Part of a scheme to widen the M25 to four lanes between junctions 27 and 30, the work involved moving 668,000 cubic metres of materials.

The project team has worked closely with the Thames Chase Wildlife Centre – donating 29 hand-crafted kestrel boxes and an owl box.

It also donated �3,500 towards Macmillan Cancer Support on top of �12,000 for other charities.

Cranham councillor Clarence Barrett visited the 30-acre works compound on the boundary of Cranham and Brentwood.

He said: “Given the scale of this project, the Highways Agency has worked very hard to keep the community updated throughout and to minimise inconvenience and disruption.

“It is good to see that 63,000 new trees have been planted between junctions 28 and 30 and we look forward to the surrounding land being restored to green and open space.”