A long stretch of one of Kent's busiest routes was sealed off after a woman was seriously injured in a crash.

The London-bound carriageway of the M2 between Faversham and Sittingbourne was shut following the two-car collision this morning.

Emergency services were called to the scene just before 6.15am, and roads bosses predicted at the time that the lanes were likely to remain closed "into the afternoon".

But just after midday traffic caught up in the disruption was released, with vehicles allowed to pass the scene of the incident.

A National Highways spokesman said: "The M2 was closed west-bound between Junction 6 for Faversham and Junction 5 for Sittingbourne due to a serious collision involving two vehicles.

"Emergency services, including the police, are in attendance.

"Due to the severity of this incident, it is likely the road will be closed for a considerable length of time.

"The carriageway is likely to remain closed throughout the morning and into the afternoon."

A diversion was in place for all west-bound traffic, taking motorists along the A251 from Faversham, the A252, M20 and A249, before re-joining the M2.

Congestion stretched as far back as Brenley Corner during the worst of the queues.

A person, understood to be a woman, has "sustained serious injuries".

"The London-bound carriageway was closed and motorists were advised to use alternative routes," a police spokesman added.

"One person has sustained serious injuries."