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M20 closed after crash

A section of the M20 was closed for more than nine hours following a serious crash in which four people were injured.

One person was taken to King's College Hospital in London with serious injuries, while a further three were taken to Tunbridge Wells Hospital for treatment.

The road was closed coastbound between Junctions 4 and 5 following the incident shortly after 1am and was shut throughout rush hour.

The M20 is closed
The M20 is closed

There were further patients who were checked over at the scene

It has since reopened and delays have cleared.

The London-bound section was also closed but has since reopened.

The accident involved two cars.

Traffic is being diverted off the M20 at Junction 4 onto the A228 until the junction with the M2 Junction 2.

Drivers should join the M2 and stay on until Junction 5 before taking the A249 south to the M20.

Follow our live blog below:

10.25am:

The coastbound carriageway of the M20 has now finally re-opened between Junction 4 and Junction 5 after some six hours.

However, delays are expected to remain, and drivers are advised to leave the motorway at Junction 4 and take the A228 (northbound) until its junction with the M2. The diversion route continues until Junction 5 where motorists will exit onto the A249 and rejoin the M20 at Junction 7.

10.18am:

Delays on the A229 are finally starting to clear. Earlier this morning it was taking drivers over half an hour to travel half a mile as a result of the disruption.

10.10am:

The traffic chaos across Maidstone has even caused a county council meeting to be delayed.

10.03am:

The coastbound closure on the M20 is still having a knock-on effect on traffic heading into Maidstone. There are queues stretching back beyond the Medway Bridge.

9.22am:

One of the accidents on the M20 has been resolved with all lanes re-opened London bound from Junction 6 for Maidstone to Junction 5 for Aylesford. The closure remains in place coastbound. There are still huge queues London bound, though, with traffic stretching back seven miles from Junction 5 to Junction 7 due to several earlier broken down vehicles.

The problems on the M20. Picture: Highways England
The problems on the M20. Picture: Highways England

8.54am:

Road users in Willesborough near Ashford are being warned to expect delays on Willesborough Road and Kennington Road, between Spearpoint Corner in Kennington and the M20 Junction 10.

Travel time is currently nine minutes.

8.41am:

The M20 coastbound is still closed, while traffic is backing up on the London bound carriageway after reports of another crash.

The M20 is closed in still closed in one direction. Picture: Highways England
The M20 is closed in still closed in one direction. Picture: Highways England

For live updates while you drive, tune into kmfm.

8.35am

Just to add to problems on the M20, a crash is now thought to have blocked part of the road's London bound carriageway.

Two lanes are reportedly blocked from Junction 6 Running Horse Roundabout to Junction 5 Coldharbour Lane.

8.26am:

There is slow moving traffic on the A229 Fairmeadow heading out of Maidstone towards the M20 Junction 6.

Heavy traffic in Maidstone
Heavy traffic in Maidstone

Expect delays.

8.20am:

Road users caught up in the traffic are taking to social media.

8.12am:

The M20 coastbound remains closed between Junction 4 and Junction 5, and delays continue to blight road across the area.

7.59am

Multiple broken-down vehicles on the M20 London bound are causing queues of seven miles between Junction 5 Coldharbour Lane and Junction 4 A228 Castle Way.

All lanes are currently open, on the London bound carriageway, but there is congestion back to Junction 7 due to the broken-down vehicles.

Routes through Maidstone are also heavily congested, as are the A20 and the M2 and A2 heading London-bound as people take a wider route away from the M20.

Travel time is 30 minutes.

7.51am:

Slow-moving traffic on the A20 London Road. Picture: KCC Highways
Slow-moving traffic on the A20 London Road. Picture: KCC Highways

There is slow-moving traffic on the A20 London Road between the A26 Tonbridge Road and Coldharbour Roundabout, as a result of the problems on the M20.

7.49am:

At least one unfortunate road user is concerned the delays could cause her to miss a flight.

7.41am:

Traffic is now queueing for 13 miles along the M2 as a result of the M20 closure.

Travel time along the westbound carriageway from Junction 2 Medway Bridge to Junction 4 Gillingham is now 55 minutes.

7.36am:

Many road users are expressing frustration over the long delays.

7.33am:

Traffic is heavier than normal on M2, as traffic diverts away from the M20.

There is currently queueing on the M2 westbound from Junction 2 Medway Bridge to Junction 1.

7.15am:

Ambulance and firefighters attended and two people were taken to a London hospital for "serious" injuries.

Two others were taken to a local hospital.

7.14am:

We're hearing the crash involved two cars and four people have been injured.

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