Kent commuters endured nightmare journeys on the M25 last night after an overturned lorry caused 10 hours of delays.

Huge tailbacks stretched more than eight miles down the M25 into the evening after an HGV flipped onto its side and was left resting against the central reservation at about 11.30am.

Delays did not begin to clear on the anti-clockwise carriageway between J3 at M20/A20 (Swanley Interchange) and J2 at A2 (Darenth Interchange) until 9.45pm.

The Highways Agency said three lanes had to be closed for the vehicle and a diesel spillage to be cleared.

Motorists reported delays of several hours, with many forced to wait in hot cars for much of the afternoon.

The lorry, which was carrying timber, was righted by late afternoon - but an extensive clean-up of its load continued.

Drivers stuck in the area reported taking hours to travel just a few miles, with many sitting in stationary vehicles in temperatures of up to 28C.

Police had earlier warned the recovery would take "a considerable" amount of time and urged drivers to avoid the area if possible.

The lorry driver is understood to have suffered minor injuries, police said.

Speaking at 1pm, a police spokesman said: "We were called at 11.06am to reports that a lorry had collided with the central reservation on the M25.

"The collision occurred close to junction three and has left the lorry on its side blocking part of the carriageway in the direction of the Dartford Crossing.

"Officers are currently at the scene, along with KFRS and Secamb and one lane remains open. The driver of the lorry is believed to have suffered minor injuries."