An oil spillage caused huge tailbacks to form on the QE2 Bridge in Dartford.

Emergency repairs are taking place on the M25 between junctions 2 and 3, near Swanley.

At the height of the queues, there were delays of up to three hours and 14 miles of congestion stretching back over the Dartford Crossing towards junction 29 in Essex.

Two of four lanes remained closed on the clockwise carriageway for a number of hours.

And it is understood lanes one and two are expected to remain closed overnight. Lane three was closed until 4.30pm.

Only the outside lane of four was open.

National Highways says it it due to a "substantial spillage".

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At 2.55pm it tweeted: "3 Lanes remain closed on the #M25 clockwise between J2 #A2 #Dartford and J3 #M20 while we deal with a substantial spillage.

"There is currently 14 miles of congestion on approach to the incident causing delays of 2 hours above normal travel time.

"Please avoid the area if possible."

At 8pm, it tweeted: "Lanes 1 and 2 remain closed on the #M25 clockwise between J2 #A2 and J3 #M20.

"A lane 3 closure will be put on later tonight so resurfacing works can take place.

"Currently there are 8 miles of slow moving traffic on approach causing delays of 40 mins above normal travel time."