Maidstone town centre was gridlocked this morning following a number of crashes and flooding.

Drivers coming into the county town from most directions, including via the A249, Tonbridge Road and the A229 on both sides of the town, faced long delays.

An accident this morning on the London-bound carriageway of the M20, between junctions 3 for Borough Green and the M26 and 1 for the M25, caused tailbacks past junction 7 for Maidstone and Sheerness to junction 8 for Leeds.

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Police were called to a four-vehicle pile up on the busy motorway at 7.25am but no one is believed to have been injured.

Traffic also backed up onto the A249, Detling Hill, as a result of congestion on the motorway.

VIDEO: Flooding caused delays for motorists.

Flooding on Maidstone's one-way gyratory system also caused delays for vehicles that managed to reach the town centre.

There was flooding on Broadway outside discount store Matalan but this has now cleared.

Frustrated commuters took to social media to complain about the delays with many stuck in traffic for several hours.

Heavily pregnant Kristy Houghton was trying to get from her Gillingham home to work in Marden, via Maidstone.

She said: "Quite possibly the worst journey ever. Seven months pregnant with twins and been sat in the car in traffic for two hours so far. Well done Maidstone!

"Two hours and not even reached Maidstone town centre. Uncomfortable is an understatement."

Several people referenced the US election in their comments.

@JamesGladwin_ tweeted: "Only thing worse than Trump being president is traffic in Maidstone."

Maidstone man Lee Harris tweeted new president Donald Trump, pleading: "Can you as one of your first acts as president please fix the roads in Maidstone! Traffic is mental!"

Charlene tweeted: "Took 40 mins to get to work when it should've been a less than 10 min drive. Maidstone traffic is horrendous."

Alan Thatcher simply wrote: "Think I'll stay in bed this morning!"

Most of the congestion has now eased, Kent County Council's Highways department is reporting.

The ongoing roadworks on the Maidstone Bridges scheme resumed at 9.30am.

In addition to the problems in Maidstone and on the M20, there was also a crash on the A20 at Aylesford earlier this morning, which added to the delays.

A van and a lorry collided at 6.20am and one person suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The road had opened by 7.15am.

Kent Police has warned drivers across the county to take extra care when driving today due to the wet conditions following heavy downpours overnight and this morning.

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