Eerie pictures show a deserted M25 as a five-mile stretch of the Surrey motorway closes until Monday - sparking fears of weekend travel chaos

The M25 has been pictured looking eerily quiet for the first time in its 38 year history as it officially closes until Monday morning. The photos show miles of deserted road, still lit up by the amber overhead lights Motoring experts believe official estimates of congestion levels may be 'optimistic', while local councillors in areas where traffic will be diverted are anticipating chaos With cars set to be redirected through small villages, residents who live in the likes of Byfleet, Ottershaw and Woodham are concerned about the impact on local life The motorway was shut down at 9pm tonight, with drivers warned to avoid Surrey as there are fears 'traffic will be nose-to-tail'. The M25 has now closed for the weekend, after motorists rushed to complete their journeys An empty M25 is seen tonight after a five-mile stretch was closed for the weekend The motorway was shut down at 9pm tonight, with drivers warned to avoid Surrey Traffic is held as a roadblock is put in place on the M25 as the motorway is closed tonight The road between Junction 10 and 11 is closed to allow the demolition of a bridge this weekend Motorists have run out of time complete their journeys today before the motorway is closed for the weekend, as locals living on the diversion route stockpile groceries Heavy traffic is pictured as people head home ahead of the M25 road closures this evening The Junction 11 approach by Weybridge, Surrey is full of drivers rushing home tonight The road - which opened in 1986 - will have the busy section shut until 6am on Monday A diversion will be in place while the M25 is closed between Junctions 10 and 11 in Surrey This will be the first planned daytime closure of the orbital motorway since it opened in 1986 Traffic at junction 10 of the M25 in Surrey during a site visit on Monday ahead of the closure A massage and beauty therapist said the M25 closure will have a 'massive impact' on her weekend plans both with her business and family. Byfleet in Surrey is among the areas facing traffic 'carnage' this weekend from the closure A couple walking on the River Wey towpath at Byfleet, a Surrey village on the diversion route With cars set to be redirected through small villages, residents who live in the likes of Byfleet, Ottershaw and Woodham are concerned about the impact on local life. Byfleet councillor Amanda Boote told Sky News: 'It's going to literally be gridlock, nose to tail' Traffic approaches junction 10 of the M25 in Surrey on Monday ahead of the planned closure National Highways project lead Jonathan Wade said it was tough to forecast the amount of congestion that will be caused by the closure because 'it's so unprecedented' Steve Gooding, director of motoring research charity the RAC Foundation, said: 'We must hope National Highways has overstated its dire predictions of sat navs adding to the traffic chaos by taking drivers off the official diversion route, because the temptation to try to skip the queues will be intense, and the impact on actual journey times uncertain.