A WOMAN is recovering in hospital after being thrown across a busy dual carriageway in north Kent on Saturday.

The woman, in her 20s, was travelling in a black Volvo C70 when it struck a crash barrier on the London-bound A2 near Bexleyheath.

She was thrown clear of the car before passing under the central reservation into the fast lane of the opposite carriageway.

Sgt Nigel Clarke, from the Metropolitan Police, said: "The young woman was thrown out of the car and must have skidded under the central reservation onto the opposite side of the road.

"If there had been any vehicles travelling on that stretch of road this could have been much more serious."

The women, believed to be Lithuanian, is now in a stable condition after being rushed to Royal London Hospital by air ambulance where she underwent surgery.

The man driving the car had to be cut free from the wreckage by firefighters. He suffered serious injuries and was taken to Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup while another man walked from the crash scene with minor injuries.

Both men are thought to be in their 20s and from Lithuania.

The incident caused traffic chaos as the road remained closed in both directions until around 3.30pm.