A dual carriageway had to be closed following two separate crashes in the early hours which left one person with serious injuries.

A lorry collided with a tree and crashed into the central reservation on the A2 shortly after 1am on the Londonbound carriageway near Canterbury.

About half-an-hour earlier, police and firefighters were called to reports of a multi-vehicle collision on the coastbound carriageway between Canterbury and the Bishopsbourne junction.

Kent Fire and Rescue said the collision involved nine cars. Crews in four engines attended the scene and used jaws of life equipment to free a casualty who was trapped in the wreckage.

One person suffered serious injuries although not deemed to be life-threatening and taken to hospital in London for treatment.

Several minor injuries were also reported, a police spokesperson confirmed this morning.

The road was closed in both directions initially but reopened on the Londonbound side at about 5.30am after the incident involving the lorry which caused damage to the barriers was resolved.

The coastbound section was shut at the Bishopsbourne and Coldharbour Lane junction for a further three hours with police remaining in attendance due to the coastbound incident.

Regarding the lorry crash, a police spokesperson said: “Kent Police was called at 1.14am on Sunday, December 3 to a report of a single-vehicle collision on the London-bound A2 near Barham where a lorry was reported to have collided with a tree and the central reservation.

“No injuries have been reported. Officers are at the scene along with other agencies and a road closure is in place while the incident is attended to.”

The road fully reopened shortly after 8.30am, National Highways said.

Traffic was being diverted around the junction via the slip roads to rejoin the A2.