Scenes of the fatal crash at Sandgate Esplanade. Pictures: @Kent_999s

A man has died and two women have been seriously injured after a car hit pedestrians on Sandgate Esplanade.

It's believed the man who died, a driver in his 50s, was taken ill just before the crash at 9.40am today.

The two women were believed to have been walking along the esplanade near Folkestone when the man's car left the road and hit them onto the beach below the wall.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

One of the women - a 67-year-old - was flown to Kings College Hospital in London with suspected head and leg injuries, where she is said to be fighting for her life.

The other woman, aged 51, was taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford with suspected fractures, where she is in a serious condition.

The A259 road between Sandgate and Hythe is now closed for police investigations.

Any witnesses who have not spoken to police should contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 01622 798538.

Meanwhile, one lane was shut on the M20 Londonbound after a crash between a lorry and car.

Speed limits were set lower after the accident between J11 for the B2068 at Hythe and J10 for the A20 earlier this afternoon.

Witnesses said traffic was at a standstill.