by Jamie Bullen

jbullen@thekmgroup.co.uk

A lane on the M25 is still closed several hours after a lorry shed its load.

The Highways Agency hopes to re-open the motorway in the next hour.

The lorry shed 45 tonnes of scrap metal which caused severe delays across north Kent. It happened on an entry road near Dartford Crossing (the A282), at 7.30am. Police closed all lanes.

Drivers faced three-hour delays as traffic officers also closed one motorway lane on the M25 at junction 1A (Swanscombe and Erith), as traffic backed up.

Congestion worsened after a four-car collision on the M25 close to the crossing at 10.30am. There were no injuries.

The agency said conditions are improving after traffic stretched back to junction 4 (Bromley), earlier this morning.