A petrol tanker was at the centre of a major fire fear at the Dartford Crossing this morning.

The lorry was bound for Kent across the Dartford QEII bridge.

Concerned observers raised the alarm after they noticed it was smoking.

Firefighters as far away as Strood in the Medway Towns were called to the scene.

First to arrive was a crew from the nearby Dartford fire station. They checked the lorry, and then decided there was no fire. The other engines were turned back.

The cause of the smoke is not known, but the lorry was allowed to continue its journey after a brief delay.