Motorists on the M20 were held up after a pile of mattresses spilled onto the carriageway.

The London-bound side of the motorway was partially blocked between Junctions 10 and 9 for Ashford this afternoon.

The mattresses fly off the back of a lorry. Footage: Lime Logistics

At least two lanes were covered in mattresses.

One driver said: "I had to go out into the fast lane to avoid them – they could easily cause an accident."

Police and National Highways were contacted for comment but no further information was provided.

It was the second incident to block part of the M20 between the two junctions in the space of a week.

On Tuesday, two lanes were closed overnight after a lorry spilled 200 litres of diesel on the coastbound carriageway.

Between Junctions 8 and 9, the Operation Brock contraflow will stay in place until at least until after the May Day Bank Holiday, highways bosses confirmed last week.

The Kent Resilience Forum (KRF) says the restrictions are continuing as cross-Channel capacity is still down by a third following the ongoing suspension of P&O services.

It means the contraflow on the M20 between Junction 8 for Maidstone and Junction 9 for Ashford will stay until at least Monday.