Drivers faced traffic chaos on the M25 this afternoon.

There were reports of six mile queues anticlockwise on the motorway before the Dartford Crossing.

At 12.30pm, congestion stretched back to J3 of the M20 (Swanley Interchange).

Travel time was around 40 minutes.

This morning, police were called after a car had struck the central reservation on the London-bound carriageway of the A2, near Dartford.

As of 3.45pm, the queues are said to be clearing.

National Highways confirmed the delays were due to exceptionally high traffic volumes.

They added that roads are expected to be busier than usual within the Christmas and New Year period.