Traffic is currently being held on the A2 due to the fourth fire there in a month.

Motorists are currently sitting on the London-bound carriageway near Dartford Heath.

A fire service spokesman said: "Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a grass fire on the roadside of the A2 near Dartford.

"Two fire engines attended, and firefighters used hose reel jets to extinguish the flames."

Three London-bound lanes were temporarily closed to make the area safe but have since reopened. There were no casualties and the cause is not yet known.

Just four days ago multiple fire engines were called to Dartford Heath at 4pm and crews used hose reel jets to extinguish a fire that had spread to around 400 square metres of grassland. No casualties were reported.

And last Wednesday evening a blaze engulfed a 100x100 metre plot, with seven fire engines and a number of support vehicles, including multi-terrain vehicles, were called at 9.43pm.

The fire service said efforts to extinguish the flames lasted for more than two hours and crews stood down at about 12.15am.

It comes as the fire service reports nearly 400 grass fires in the month of July – a rise of nearly 10 times the amount in July 2021 – due to the heatwave.

The fire service has been approached for more information.