Seven miles of the A13 will be deep cleaned during a three-week overnight cleaning project.

The section of road linking Tilbury and Orsett to Basildon and Fobbing will be litter picked and the roadside grass verges cut.

The cleaning project will stretch between the A1089 and the Five Bells roundabout, all on land which falls under the council’s control.

Works will take place from Monday August 1 and are planned to be completed by Friday August 19.

The seven mile stretch of the A13, between the A1089 and the Five Bells roundabout which fall under the council’s control, will also be closed on various nights of August to allow the cleaning to take place.

Work will start on August 1 from the Five Bells junction moving westbound. The inside lane of the westbound carriageway will be closed from 9pm to approximately 5am the next morning, until August 4.

The same closure will take place on the eastbound carriageway from the 5 August, working back towards the Five Bells junction.

Both outside lanes will be closed from 9pm to 5am to clear the central reservation from 11 August until the end of the work on the 19 August as the team work westbound towards the Tilbury junction.

A spokesman for the council said a crew of eight to ten operatives will be working each night to cut back vegetation and grass verges and to pick litter.

Approximately one and a half miles of road will be cleared each night by the team.

Councillor Pauline Tolson, Portfolio Holder for Environment, said: “The priority of this administration is to improve the appearance of the borough and environment.

“This type of roadside clean-up is working towards achieving these goals and making Thurrock a nicer, cleaner, safer place to live, work and travel.”

Cllr Tolson added: “The rest of the A13 – other than this area which we are clearing – is the responsibility of the Highways Agency. We will continue to put pressure on them to take equal responsibility for their stretch of highway in Thurrock.”

All work is subject to change due to weather to ensure safe working practices for all crew members.

For more information on street care and cleaning taking place in the borough go to: thurrock.gov.uk/cleanstreets