Two men have suffered life-threatening injuries in an accident on the A2 near Canterbury.

It happened at 9.50am Wednesday when a 44-tonne lorry crashed into a broken-down lorry on the coastbound carriageway between Bridge and Barham.

The lorry then jack-knifed and turned over onto its side.

Ambulance and fire crews attended the scene, as well as the Kent Air Ambulance.

The two men who were seriously injured were in the moving lorry - no one in the broken-down HGV was hurt.

One was airlifted to a London hospital, while the other was taken to the QEQM Hospital at Margate.

Diesel spilled onto the road, which had to be closed in both directions. Diversions were put in place onto the A28, A299 and the A256 for Dover-bound traffic.

The London-bound carriageway was reopened at around noon but it remains shut coast-bound and is expected to remain so until 7pm Wednesday, according to police.

Ch Insp Roscoe Walford, the critical incident commander at the scene, said at 12.45pm: "We are dealing with a very serious collision and the road is likely to be shut for a considerable period as it will take time to recover the HGV which is on its side. There is also a possibility that the road will need resurfacing before we can reopen it.

"We are asking drivers to avoid the area. We would also like anyone who witnessed the accident to contact us."

A police spokesman said: Police are advising coast-bound traffic entering Kent to use the M25, M20 and A20 as alternative routes to reach destinations in the southern part of the county."

The cause of the crash is being investigated. Anyone with information is urged to contact Kent Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 01622 798538.