MOTORISTS were stunned to see the aftermath of a collision on the M20 which flattened a car and sent a minibus crashing down the embankment.

Police were called at around 7am on Wednesday morning to the coastbound carriageway about four miles from junction 9 in the Charing area where a white Ford Transit minibus and a blue Rover had collided.

The driver of the car managed to get out of the vehicle as did two from the minibus. Four others in the minibus had to be cut out of the wreck by firefighters.

Two people were taken to the William Harvey by ambulance with injuries which are said not to be life-threatening. Three others with minor injuries were also taken to the hospital.

Both carriageways were closed to allow Kent Air Ambulance to land but were not required to treat any of those involved. Fire crews from Ashford, Maidstone and Larkfield attended as well as five ambulances and police.

One lane of the coastbound carriageway was closed until 8:30am.

The cause of the collision is not yet known.