A motorway was closed for more than three hours after a man fell from a bridge after he was seen "sat on the wrong side" of the railings.

The man was treated at the scene on the M20, with traffic held at a standstill between junctions 9 and 10 on the coastbound stretch at Ashford.

The road was closed in both directions to allow the air ambulance to land.

The air ambulance left the scene at about 4.10pm.

The M20 partially reopened coastbound between junction 9 and junction 10 shortly after 6pm, although two lanes remained closed. It fully reopened shortly after 6.20pm.

Long delays will remain in the area throughout the evening.

Nigel Billinge, 53, who lives in Ashford, witnessed the incident, which happened on the A28 Canterbury Road bridge.

He said: “I was driving towards Ashford from Canterbury past Bybrook Barn and on the right-hand side there was a queue of parked cars.

"It wasn’t until I got on top of the bridge that I saw a chap holding on. He was sat on the wrong side of the bridge.

"There was someone stood a yard from him who looked like he was trying to talk to him."

He then saw the man fall onto the motorway.

The A28 Canterbury Road bridge over the M20 has been shut

He said: “It was absolutely horrifying and sickening to witness that. My stomach just turned.

"There was a number of people there with their phones out, so I guess they were on the phone to the emergency services.

“I’ve heard about things like this happen before. But to actually witness it is sickening beyond belief.

"Your heart goes out to the chap, but equally to the people on motorway. I don’t know what happened as he fell.”

Traffic has been halted by police between junctions 9 and 10.

The A28 Canterbury Road bridge, from which the man fell, has been reopened in both directions although traffic remains very slow with queues in both directions.

Part of the footpath on the bridge remains taped off and police are still there.

Junction 9 has been closed and emergency services are working at the scene.

Police were called to the incident at 3.08pm today.

Officers are advising motorists to avoid the area.

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