LONG queues of traffic built up on the approaches to Dover on Tuesday after a lorry trailer overturned outside the entrance to the Eastern Docks.

The lorry, from the Czech Republic, was carrying nappies and weighed a total of 15 tonnes. It was negotiating the roundabout outside the dock gates, when the trailer toppled over, just after 5pm.

The vehicle blocked part of the road, and traffic built up on both the A2 and A20 approaches as emergency services attended the scene, and recovery engineers were called in. No other vehicles were travelling past the lorry at the time, and no-one was hurt.

Signs were displayed on the M20 and M2/A2, and as far back as the M25, to warn motorists heading for the port. The road surface was also damaged and highway engineers were called in.

The BP petrol station just inside the docks had to be closed to allow traffic to go across the forecourt to get around the obstruction from the A20 onto the A2 Jubilee Way.

It was just before 7.30pm that the trailer was pulled back upright, and the road was finally cleared around 9pm.