Traffic came to a standstill on the A2 from Medway right up to the Dartford Tunnel when a Land Rover towing a cherry-picker turned over in rush-hour traffic.

The accident happened yesterday morning on the coastbound carriageway of the A2 as it meets the M2 at Strood/Rochester.

Police and other emergency services were called to the scene at about 5.20pm, and partially closed the carriageway as diesel and hydraulic fluid from the vehicle had spilled onto the road.

The slip road was also closed as the road surface was damaged.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash and the driver of the Land Rover is not thought to have suffered any injuries.

Although police did try and keep one lane of the motorway open to traffic, tailbacks built up along the A2 as far as the Dartford Tunnel.

A spokesman for Kent Police added: “The accident had not only damaged some of the carriageway, but fuel had spilt from the vehicle.

"Officers tried to keep the traffic flowing in one lane until the vehicle could be recovered.

"The vehicle was righted just after 7pm and the road was then cleaned and gritted until the whole road was totally re-opened by 8.30pm.”