A motorway route has been cleared after a vehicle fire caused long delays.

The M2 Eastbound had been shut, according to reports, with long queues building from Junction 4 towards the A278 Hoath Way, Gillingham, to Junction 5 A249, Sittingbourne/Stockbury Roundabout.

National Highways said the stretch had been blocked in “both directions between with all traffic stopped “due to a car fire and drifting smoke”.

It added police, fire and highways officers were at the scene with “delays rapidly building”.

A police spokesperson added: “Kent Police was called at 11.03am on Saturday 31 August 2024 to reports of a vehicle fire on the coastbound carriageway of the M2 between junctions 4 and 5.

“Officers attended the scene with colleagues from Kent Fire and Rescue Service.”

A KFRS spokesperson said: “We were called at 10.59am to the M2 Coastbound, between junctions 4 and 5, to reports of a vehicle fire.

“Two fire engines attended and crews, wearing breathing apparatus, used compressed air foam to extinguish the car that was alight.

“There were no reported injuries.”

The cause of the fire is currently unknown.