A lorry driver is fighting for his life after his truck careered off the M20 today and tumbled down an embankment.

Police were called just after 8am after getting reports of an overturned lorry on the London-bound carriageway near Lenham.

Lane three of the carriageway has now reopened but disruption is expected to continue for some hours.

The crash has created traffic gridlock around Ashford, pictured above, as drivers try to avoid the M20 by seeking other routes.

Long queues built up during the morning with some driverscaught in tailbacks for up to two hours.

The driver of the German-registered lorry, which was carrying rolls of paper, was freed from his cab and has been airlifted to hospital by the Kent Air Ambulance.

He suffered life-threatening injuries.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "All London-bound traffic has been advised to avoid the M20 between junctions 11 and 8 and to use the A20 or the A2 instead."

The cause of the incident is as yet unknown.