TWO horses were injured when a horsebox overturned on the M20.

The horses were alive but needed urgent assistance following the accident on the slip road of junction seven at around 3.55pm on Sunday.

They had been travelling in a trailer being pulled by a car.

Fire crews from Maidstone and Larkfield attended and Kent Fire and Rescue Service also sent a specialist animal rescue unit equipped with lifting gear. Police also called a vet.

One lane of the London-bound carriageway was closed between junctions six and seven while debris was cleared away.

Spare horseboxes were called to take the horses away from the scene. It is not known what caused the accident in which no one was hurt.