The end could be in sight for thousands of drivers trapped near the Dartford crossing, some for up to eight hours.

A Highways England Spokesman told KentOnline the bridge will reopen by 10pm now the wind has dropped sufficiently, but it will still take a while for the traffic to clear.

Highways officers are expected to begin removing the diversions shortly.

Drivers are reporting delays of up to eight hours around Dartford tonight following the closure of the crossing due to high winds.

Weather warnings were lifted at 6pm but the tail end of Storm Imogen is still causing widespread problems on the county's roads.

Motorists on the A282 have endured hours of delays as thousands of vehicles try to get through the tunnel following the closure of the Queen Elizabeth II bridge.

Things you can do in eight hours

• Fly to Barbados
• A standard day's work
• Watch the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy - but not the extended special editions
• Slow roast a medium-sized pork shoulder
• Have a good night's sleep

The chaos on the roads is the latest in a day of disruption caused by Storm Imogen, which has seen both the Sheppey Crossing and the Dartford Crossing closed for the afternoon.

Motorists around Sittingbourne and Bobbing and Sheerness are also stuck in traffic following the closure of the Sheppey Crossing, with delays of up to three hours reported.

Train services have also faced delays after a petrol station roof blew onto the tracks, and fallen trees have caused damage and blocked roads across the county.