Kent Police have thanked drivers for their patience after a fatal crash closed part of the M25 motorway during the Friday evening rush hour.

A woman died and three others were injured when six cars and a lorry collided near junction three on the approach to the Dartford Tunnel. The victim has not yet been named.

The carriageway was closed at junction two to allow emergency services to attend the pile up, causing severe delays for motorists.

The Red Cross was also brought in to help drivers caught up in the queues.

Ch Insp Andy Reeves from Kent Police said: "Any incident involving a fatality does take a significant amount of time to deal with, particularly when it happens on a motorway or when it involves a large number of vehicles."

"Overwhelmingly, people understand what is involved in dealing with these tragic incidents and we're really grateful for their support."