A MOTORIST had to be cut free from his car and placed on a spinal longboard after an accident at the top of Detling Hill, near Maidstone.

The crash, at about 5.40pm on Thursday, occurred on the Sittingbourne-bound carriageway of the A249 and involved three cars and a lorry.

Firefighters used hydraulic cutting equipment to free the man who was taken to Maidstone Hospital suffering from neck pain and a tender shoulder. His injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

Two other motorists suffered shock but did not require hospital treatment.

Tailbacks reached back as far as junction seven of the M20 near Bearsted. One eye witness said: “There was a car at 90 degrees to the road and it was all smashed up. There were lots of firemen trying to get someone out of the car.” The road was cleared by 6.45pm.