THE Medway Tunnel was shut for a time today after a lorry overturned near the roundabout at the entrance to the Medway City Estate in Strood.

The accident also caused severe congestion in the centre of Chatham as tailbacks built up from about 10am. But the all roads and the tunnel were re-opened just after 1pm.

The 44-ton articulated lorry, which was fully laden with paper pulp, overturned at the roundabout leading out of the tunnel on to Anthonys Way.

The driver was taken hospital suffering from only minor injuries. Railings near the roundabout were flattened. No other vehicles were involved and nobody else was injured in the incident.

One motorist who was stuck in the tailbacks was Kent Messenger Group photographer Barry Crayford, said: “It was just a nightmare. Shutting the tunnel had a massive effect on the Medway Towns.

"I was stuck in Dock Road, Chatham, for ages, and when I eventually did get into the town centre, that was gridlocked too.”

A spokesman for Medway Police said: “An investigation is ongoing into what caused the lorry to overturn.”