Operation Stack brought in on the M20 at J8. Picture: Highways Agency

Commuters are warned to take extra care on Kent's roads tonight after Operation Stack was brought in when severe weather here and in France caused motorways and major routes to become clogged or closed.

Operation Stack Phase 2 has been put in place, which means all traffic is taken off the M20 coastbound at junction 8.

Lorries are then put back on and held in a queue. Other traffic is diverted along the A20 before rejoining the motorway at junction 9 at Ashford.

Meanwhile, other roads across Kent are still gridlocked as emergency services battle to clear abandoned cars, jack-knifed lorries and crashes.

Southeastern rail services are also suffering from delays and cancellations, while no Eurostar trains have been running today.

Kent Police this evening urged drivers to travel only if necessary.

A spokesman said: "Snow, high winds and freezing temperatures are expected to continue throughout Tuesday and into the night and motorists are advised to only travel if necessary."

More than 130 schools were also reported closed today across the county, with Sevenoaks, Folkestone and Dover among the worst.

Police worked throughout the night, as they were called to more than 100 stranded motorists. Drifts today were reported to be as high as 10ft in parts.

Around 30 vehicles have been left abandoned on Lympne Hill, after the area became impassable.

Some journeys throughout the county stretched into several hours, after strong winds and snow left lorries jackknifed and cars marooned.

At just before 4pm today, police issued an update on closures and tailbacks:

• The M2 between junctions one and two have a number of broken-down vehicles causing delays
• The M20 between junctions seven to 11 has slow traffic, junction 11a closed, Op Stack in place. Motorists are advised to avoid the M20 at all costs.
• The Sheppey Crossing could also be closed later this evening due to heavy winds.

Stranded cars and lorries in three lanes of traffic on the coastbound M20 near to junction 10 earlier today

Cars were buried by snow drifts in a country lane in Elham today

Riverview Park, Gravesend in the snow earlier today

Hawkinge in the snow this morning. Picture: Sophie West

Rescuers out in force on the M20 at Junction 11 as snow hits. Picture: Mark Jones

Sandgate beach near Folkestone this morning

The Dungeness Road leading to the power station. Picture: Richard Wenham

Meanwhile, last night The Channel Tunnel was tempoarily closed at 9pm for just under an hour. A reduced service has since been operating. That has left a build-up of queueing traffic tailing back to j10 for Ashford on the M20.

Hundred of motorists were trapped in blizzard conditions for more than 12 hours last night on the A2 between the Lydden lights and the A260 junction.

It came after a lorry jack-knifed. Once the lorry was cleared from the coastbound carriageway, snow drifts built up – some reported as up to a metre high – which had to be cleared and the road gritted.

Ian West, who was stuck in the jam, said: There was no movement for two hours after I first came to a halt just after 8pm.

Sky's helicopter captures the Operation Stack queues on the M20

Motorists trapped in blizzards on the A2 between the Lydden lights and the A260 junction

About 200 vehicles abandoned on the A260 in Folkestone. Picture: @Kent999s

"Then things started moving forward and I had high hopes of getting home before midnight then it all stopped again.

"You could hear engines being switched on and then off again as everyone tried to juggle keeping warm with conserving fuel.

"At 3.30am the police moved the cars and lorries to either side of the carriageway saying they hoped to get a gritter through, but nothing arrived.

"The frustration was added to by the fact you could see lorries getting through on the Canterbury-bound carriageway with no problem.

"As it began to get light a couple of snow ploughs and a gritter arrived, but it was to be another two hours before we finally got moving.

"It was then we could see why it had taken so long. The wind had created a snow drift across the road which stretched for 200 metres and a single track had been carved through it to allow us through."

"By now it was 8.30pm, two hours into my journey. The train didn't arrive until 9.45pm and when it reached Dover at 10 it was held up by another train blocking the platform.

"Another 15 minute wait and I didn't reach my front door until 10.30pm."

And a mum from Canterbury was stuck on the A2 for nine hours last night with an 11-month-old baby and a two-year-old in her car.

Units from the city were sent out to find her and her children - who she was taking to Disneyland – after she pulled over in a layby on the Dover-bound carriageway.

She eventually made it back to Canterbury shortly after 9am today.

The A20 junction with the Hawkinge slip road to Spitfire Hill was still littered with abandoned cars this morning.

Cars were left abandoned outside the Ship Inn in Sandgate High Street at Sandgate near Folkestone

Lorries were parked up three-abreast along the M20 coastbound, which was closed between Ashford and Folkestone.

One lane of the M20 London-bound was open with traffic moving slowly.