A stretch of motorway is reopen after being closed due to delays caused by increased port security as part of an ongoing manhunt.

Police had shut the M20 coastbound between Junction 8 near Maidstone Junction 9 at Ashford in their search for former soldier and terror suspect Daniel Abed Khalife.

The 21-year-old broke out of Wandsworth prison in south-west London on Wednesday morning by clinging onto a delivery van and a nationwide search has been ongoing since.

The stretch of motorway had been shut – in a move called Brock Zero – as enhanced checks are taking place at the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel, in case Khalife tries to leave the country via the Channel ports.

But law enforcement bosses have now confirmed the portion of the major route will now return to normal.

In a statement tonight, Kent Police explained it had been necessary to close the stretch of the motorway on Thursday morning due to delays caused by the measures and in order to keep any disruption to Kent’s wider road network to a minimum.

But while checks at the ports continue to take place, the traffic delays have eased to the extent that the M20 closure can now be lifted.

Temporary chief superintendent Simon Alland said: “The closure of the M20 is an emergency measure that is only used following consultation with our partners in the Kent Resilience Forum (KRF) and after a thorough assessment of issues including public safety and traffic volumes.

“On behalf of the KRF I would like to thank residents, businesses and visitors for the patience and understanding they have shown.”

Kent drivers also had to contend with separate traffic delays linked to a bomb scare earlier today.

Services at the Folkestone Eurotunnel terminal were suspended for almost six hours after army explosive experts were called in to inspect a suspicious vehicle.

Hundreds of vehicles clogged up the M20 on approach to the tunnel at Junction 11a and within the port confines.

The incident at Eurotunnel is not currently being linked to the ongoing search for Khalife.

He is accused of planting a fake bomb and gathering information that might be useful to terrorists or enemies of the UK, but denies all charges.

Khalife, went missing in his cook’s uniform from HMP Wandsworth, which is a category B prison - the second highest level of security.

The prisoner was on remand awaiting a November 13 trial at Woolwich Crown Court in relation to terrorism and Official Secrets Act offences.

Khalife was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and brown steel toe cap boots.

Met Police have issued an urgent appeal to the public to help trace the 21-year-old, who is described as being around 6ft 2ins tall, of slim build, with short brown hair.

Having links to Kingston, officers believe he likely remains in the London area, but may have travelled further afield by now.

An all ports alert has been issued across the country sparking delays at UK airports and other ports including Dover and the Channel Tunnel in the hunt which involves more than 150 officers and staff.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: “We have a team of officers who are making extensive and urgent inquiries in order to locate and detain Khalife as quickly as possible.

“However, the public can help us as well and should anyone see Khalife, or have any information as to where he might be, then please call 999 or the immediately.

“I also want to reassure the public that we have no information which indicates, nor any reason to believe that Khalife poses a threat to the wider public, but our advice if you do see him is not to approach him and call 999 straight away.”