A TANKER swerved out of control and crashed into a wall near the Medway Tunnel on Wednesday morning.

The driver suffered head injuries but was not thought to be seriously hurt.

Police confirmed the Medway Tunnel was closed in both directions following the incident at around 7.45am.

An eyewitness said the tanker, belonging to the hire firm TIP, had been attempting to avoid a car coming onto the A289 Pier Road, from a slip road on the Gillingham side of the tunnel.

It crashed into the central barrier then veered at almost right angles into the wall.

Strood-bound traffic was flowing again within a short period, but traffic on the Gillingham bound carriageway was blocked off and diverted.

At least two fire engines were at the scene, which was just a short distance from the new Medway Police Headquarters.