Flames lick the skyline after a lorry caught fire on the M20. Picture: Kent_999s on Twitter

This is the dramatic moment a lorry become an inferno on the M20 last night.

A stretch of the motorway was closed for more than six hours when the HGV burst into flames near Folkestone.

Long delays built as flames licked the skyline from the lorry, carrying large rolls of plastic insulation.

Firefighters battled to control the blaze as the road was shut London-bound from junction 12 for Cheriton to junction 11 for Hythe.

Traffic was being diverted along the A20 from about 5.15pm, when it was first closed.

One lane of the M20 was re-opened at about 11pm, but two lanes remained shut while work began to remove the lorry and resurface the road.

All lanes were re-opened at 3.30am, but the hard shoulder will remain closed into this morning for further inspection.