PART of the M2 was closed after a six-vehicle crash in which two people were injured.

The pile-up caused severe congestion and tailbacks in a wide area of north Kent as traffic was diverted off the motorway.

The crash, which happened at about 4am on Wednesday, caused the closure of the coastbound carriageway between Gillingham and Sittingbourne.

One of those hurt had to be freed from a Transit van by firefighters. He was taken to hospital but it is not believed, at this stage, that his injuries are life-threatening.

The other injured person, a 43-year-old, suffered minor injuries. At least one HGV was involved in the collision.

The crash happened just before the slip road to the A249 at Stockbury, near Sittingbourne.

Coastbound traffic on the M2 was diverted off at junction 4, the Gillingham turn-off. This led to long queues on the A2 stretching from Sittingbourne back to Rainham.