The traffic officer patrols are expanding across Kent motorways

Officers have been patrolling the Kent sections of the M25 since August but are now expanding to cover the M2, M20, M26 and parts of the A2.

They also began work last summer on the M25, M3 and M23 in Surrey and Sussex and have dealt with 13,000 incidents.

Traffic officers also helped out after heavy snow in Kent in December.

The launch of the traffic officer service in Kent will free up significant police resources Adrian Leppard

Over four days they assisted police on the M20 and M2 by moving stranded vehicles off the motorway on to the hard shoulder and provided welfare help to drivers.

"Kent has some of the busiest stretches of motorway in the country," said roads minister Stephen Ladyman, MP for Thanet South.

"The aim of the traffic officer patrols is to ensure that drivers have more reliable journey times, safer roads and better information."

The Highways Agency service is expected to reach full capacity in the South East by the autumn, when officers will also be patrolling motorways in Hampshire.

The regional control centre alongside the M25 at Godstone, Surrey will be HQ for 300 on-road and control room staff.