Huge delays have started easing on major routes across Kent after bad weather led to several crashes and travel congestion.

Crashes and emergency repairs caused problems on motorways and overnight heavy rain and snowfall affected the railways and ferry routes across the Channel.

It was a nightmare for many motorists as footage shows queues on the M20 near Maidstone

The M20, M25, A2 and M26 were hit by incidents causing traffic to jam up and more than a dozen in total affected motorways and main roads around the county.

Two incidents on the A249 at Detling Hill and near the Stockbury roundabout were also reported. Earlier knock-on delays at Blue Bell Hill on the A229 between Maidstone and Chatham due to queues caused by a lorry crash on the M20 near Ashford have also eased.

M20

A jacknifed lorry has forced the M20 to be closed for 10 miles between Maidstone and Ashford.

Police were called at 5am after reports a lorry had collided with a car between junctions 8 and 9 on the coastbound carriageway.

No serious injuries have been reported.

But the road remains closed and queues are tailing back to Maidstone.

Repairs are taking place to the central reservation and police left the scene at about 7.10am.

Knock-on delays are being felt on the A20 in Lenham as diverted traffic is struggling to cope on local roads.

Congestion is reported back to Ashford in the Londonbound direction and to Leeds Castle in the coastbound direction.

Roadworks and temporary traffic lights in the village is also causing more lengthy delays with travel time through the roadworks of up to an hour.

M25 and Dartford Crossing

A large pothole required emergency repairs on the clockwise carriageway just before junction 1B for the A282 and Dartford.

Congestion was reported across the Dartford Crossing on the QEII bridge back to junction 29 for Romford and on the A13 to Tilbury from about 8am.

Nine vehicles reported damage after striking the hole in lane one. Three of four lanes were closed to allow the fix to take place safely.

Routes around Purfleet and Lakeside were also struggling.

All lanes have reopened but earlier delays of 60 minutes were being reported by Highways England.

A2

Ten-mile queues have been tailing back from Bean to beyond Rochester due to emergency repairs on the A2.

The Londonbound carriageway was closed after an earlier accident added to delays around the roadworks.

Delays formed around the A2260 Northfleet and Ebbsfleet turn off from about 7am.

Queues in the roadworks and the impact of the crash on the A2 has caused jams to queue beyond junction 3 at Rochester and slowing traffic from junction 4 at Gillingham.

Travel time was an estimated 70 minutes but the road had reopened and delays cleared at about 10.45am.

A249 - Detling Hill and Stockbury Roundabout

Two incidents on the A249, including southbound at Detling Hill, is adding to delays from the M20 tailbacks caused by the earlier jackknifed lorry.

Two miles of queues were reported with a broken down lorry causing delays by blocking one lane. Slow moving traffic is on the approach to junction 7 of the M20 and the Maidstone roundabout.

All lanes reopened at about midday.

Police confirmed a second crash had been reported on the A249 northbound before the Stockbury roundabout involving a car and a van.

Officers were called at 7.45am and paramedics treated one of the drivers at the scene but did not need to attend hospital.

The road has since reopened following the northbound incident.

M26

The eastbound entry sliproad at junction 2A for the A20 and London Road at Wrotham is closed following a broken down vehicle.

Recovery work is taking place but the slip is closed heading up from the roundabout.

Ferries

Both DFDS and P&O Ferries are reporting up to hour-long delays on its cross-channel routes from Dover due to poor weather conditions.

Passengers are advised to check with their operator before travelling.

Kent Police said there are no plans currently to enforce Operation Stack because of ferry delays.

Trains

Flooding around Newington caused problems on Southeastern railway between Sittingbourne and Rainham.

Heavy rainfall has left trains heading towards London to be cancelled this morning but services were still running towards the coast.

Replacement buses were arranged but the service was running normally again by 10am.

A fallen tree in Hollingbourne has also closed a station.

Meanwhile, services via Catford into the capital between London Victoria and Shortlands on Southeastern and Thameslink between Blackfriars and Shortlands are affected following a signalling problem.

All trains southbound have been suspended and are being diverted via Herne Hill.

Northbound services are not affected and neither are services towards Lewisham.

Other routes

A two-car crash in Bearsted was reported at about 6.20am. Police were called to Ware Street.

A woman reported injuries which police say were not thought to be serious.

Highways officers have closed Ware Street near the junction with Bell Lane due to flooding.

A boy has been taken to hospital following a crash on Maidstone Road in Chatham.

Emergency services were called shortly after 8am and he was taken in to Medway Maritime Hospital.

Police are appealing after a man suffered serious injuries while trying to escape police during a chase in Folkestone in the early hours.

Investigation works closed Cherry Garden Avenue following the crash.

Delays of up to 30 minutes are expected on the A251 in Challock near Ashford due to roadworks at the Halfway House pub.

Queuing traffic is being reported along Faversham Road in both directions with temporary traffic lights in the area.

Treacherous conditions have been caused by a mixture of overnight snow and rain leading to road surfaces becoming slippery.

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