The one and only bout of snow this wintertime contributed to two motorway crashes last night.

One of the smashes on the M20 near Folkestone was a multiple pile-up.

A Kent Police spokesman said: “It was reported that heavy wet snow fell quickly causing poor visibility.”

Officers were called just after 6.25pm to the London-bound carriageway near Junction 13.

Two separate incidents were reported, one a collision between a Peugeot and a lorry and another a multi-vehicle crash.

South East Coast Ambulance Service attended and it is thought that four people suffered minor injuries and were taken to William Harvey Hospital.

Police say that the carriageway was shut while vehicles were recovered and debris was cleared. Two lanes were reopened at about 8.15pm, leaving just the first lane closed until 8.45pm.

This was the only incident of snowfall reported in Shepway during a winter period that has been characterised by mild temperatures but destructive winds, record rainfall and flooding.