A well-respected school teacher has been killed in a crash on the M25.

Mother Barbara Du Preez, who taught at Fleetdown Junior School in Dartford, died during Monday night’s heavy downpours.

According to police, her car was travelling clockwise on the motorway between junctions two and three when it collided with a petrol tanker.

South East Coast Ambulance Service attended but Mrs Du Preez, from the Sevenoaks area, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The devastating news was broken to staff and pupils at the Lunedale Road school on Tuesday.

One shocked parent, who lives in Low Close, Greenhithe, said: “I couldn’t believe it when I heard that she had been in an accident. She taught my daughter on occasions. My deepest sympathy goes out to her family and staff and pupils at the school.”

The carriageway was closed for several hours after the incident, which happened at 7.15pm on Monday.

Witnesses are asked to call the Serious Collision Unit on 01622 798538.