On what was the hottest day of the year so far, hundreds of motorists, many on their way to the coast found themselves stuck on a motorway for more than an hour.

Police were called shortly before 10am Wednesday to a crash on the coastbound carriageway of the M2 between junctions five and six, just over halfway from Sittingbourne to Faversham.

Two vehicles, a lorry and a car, were involved. The car overturned and ended up on its side against the central reservation crash barrier, blocking one lane. Traffic was having to use just one lane because of debris.

The woman driver of the car and the man driving the lorry were treated by ambulance crews at the scene and it is believed their injuries were not serious. Nobody else was injured.

Two other cars had a minor collision in the tailback but nobody was hurt.

Police closed the road for more than an hour while the vehicles were recovered.

The crash caused miles of tailbacks towards the Sittingbourne junction and even as far as the Medway services. Traffic through Sittingbourne was also very heavy as motorists were advised to use the A2 or M20.

Beverly Austin, who was on her way to Whitstable and got stuck in the queue said: "It’s absolute chaos, it’s just a car park. There’s loads of people with children, elderly people all getting dehydrated and just sitting on the verges. We think we might have to get our picnics out and eat them on the side of the motorway."

The road was re-opened at 11am but traffic was still slow moving at lunchtime.