Drivers were told to expect severe rush hour congestion at the Dartford Crossing on Friday night.

It comes after a vehicle caught fire on the corssing earlier this afternoon.

The QEII bridge has now been re-opened, but there were still tailbacks in the area at the start of rush hour, police warned.

Kent Police advised motorists to use alternative routes after the bridge was shut to allow the Highways Agency to deal with the incident.

Traffic was earlier backing up to junction 4 of the anti-clockwise carriageway of the M25 in Kent.