The M2 at the A249 after a four-vehicle crash. Picture: Andy Payton

A crash between a lorry and three cars has caused huge delays on the M2 on the hottest day of the year.

Tailbacks stretched back nine miles after two lanes were shut on the coastbound carriageway at J5.

It happened just before the slip-road at the A249 for Sittingbourne at 10.55am.

Firefighters from Sittingbourne and Maidstone used hydraulic cutting equipment to remove one of the casualties.

Sittingbourne crew manager Kevin Ford said: "A guy, a young lad, was trapped in one of the cars by his injuries, suspected spinal and neck injuries.

"Paramedics required us to cut the roof off and we put him on a spinal long board."

Witnesses reported seeing casualties being treated on the road.

The hard shoulder was used so traffic could pass, but there were still reports of queues back to J3 at the top of Blue Bell Hill.

A Kent Police spokesman said no one involved in the crash had suffered life-threatening injuries and the motorway was fully reopened by 1pm.

A crash between a lorry, car and van meant the slip road onto the London-bound carriageway of the A2 was closed today.

Police were called to the junction with the A227 at Gravesend at about 12.40pm.

A man was cut free from the van. He is believed to have non-life threatening injuries.