DRIVERS were delayed and frustrated when industrial action in France resulted in a build up of freight traffic on the M20 at Folkestone.

Operation Stack was implemented shortly after 8pm last night with road works at Folkestone making the problems worse. Lorries used the M20 to queue for the port of Dover and the Channel Tunnel and other traffic was diverted from the Hollingbourne and Ashford turn offs onto the A20.

Traffic problems worsened very soon afterwards when two lorries crashed on the A20 between Folkestone and Dover and one overturned and blocked both carriageways.

To compound the difficulties there was another accident on the M20 between junctions 6 and 7, Maidstone, at about 8.50pm when two lorries caught fire. Two lanes were closed while firefighters attended the scene. The vehicles were removed just after midnight. Operation Stack was stood down just after midnight.