A MAN was taken to hospital after his car was crushed by a lorry loaded with grain that overturned on the London-bound carriageway of the A21 Pembury bypass.

The incident, which happened just before 9am on Tuesday, closed the road in both directions for more than an hour.

Three fire crews with rescue equipment attended and shovelled grain that had spilled into the car’s compartment so that they could free the trapped driver.

The Mercedes lorry was carrying about 10 tonnes of grain.

The driver of the blue VW Golf car was extracted from the car and taken by air ambulance to Maidstone Hospital suffering crush injuries. The extent of his injuries is not yet known.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "It appears the lorry also collided with some other cars. The exact number is not known at this time.

"People in these vehicles suffered minor cuts and bruises. The lorry driver suffered from shock."

Sgt John Crozier said: "We had a tremendous response from people nearby, in particular from a group of council workers and a group of steel erectors who were in the traffic.

"They immediately rushed to the assistance of the man trapped in the car and were of invaluable help to emergency services. Our thanks go out to them."

The lorry, the VW Golf and another car damaged in the incident, a Vauxhall Vectra, needed to be recovered from the road.

The road was closed in both directions, from North Farm roundabout to Kippings Cross roundabout, while emergency services dealt with the incident. One lane of both carriageways was reopened by 1.10pm.