ONE person was killed and three others were injured when the vehicle they were travelling in was involved in an accident in the Dartford Tunnel on Monday night.

The crash happened at around 8.45pm in the Essex-bound tunnel.

A white Ford lorry containing four men entered the tunnel but the driver failed to avoid stationary vehicles ahead and collided with the back of a red articulated lorry and a silver Ford Transit van.

Police say "a chain of events occurred following the actions of a mini and an articulated goods vehicle that failed to stop".

A Citroen Berlingo van lost control and veered across both lanes of the tunnel, blocking the road.

A road sweeper, the red articulated lorry and a silver Ford Transit van managed to stop, but the white Ford lorry failed to avoid them.

One passenger in the Ford lorry died, another was seriously hurt and the other two, including the driver, suffered minor injuries.

Kent Ambulance Trust says it took more than two hours to free the seriously injured man from the vehicle. He suffered serious leg, chest facial and internal injuries.

The driver suffered cuts to his face and hands, while the third passenger sustained chest injuries.

The injured men were taken to Darent Valley Hospital.

* Kent Police are appealing for any witnesses to contact their witness appeal line on 01622 798538.