Motorists can expect huge delays of up to 12 miles after the main carriageway of the M25 was closed near Tilbury.

That means traffic heading into Kent will be stuck in miles of traffic stretching halfway back to J27 for the M11, down the A12 into London and in both directions along the A13.

The accident, involving three lorries, happened at around 4.45am on the clockwise stretch at J30 for Lakeside.

Experts are warning the M25 could stay blocked until midday, with diversions via the slip road, and around the roundabout.

Specialist recovery vehicles have not yet arrived.

Meanwhile there are 11 miles of queues on the M25 anticlockwise at the Dartford Tunnel, with congestion on the motorway heading back to J23 for the M20 at Swanley.

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