POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a traffic collision that left a woman dead and a four-year-old boy in a critical condition in hospital.

It happened on the coastbound carriageway of the M2 between junctions five for Sittingbourne and six for Faversham on Thursday at about 10.30am. The crash involved a grey Nissan Micra and a Scania lorry.

The 40-year-old woman from Sussex died at the scene and the boy was airlifted to the William Harvey Hospital. He was later transferred to Kings College in London where he is receiving treatment.

The coastbound carriageway reopened at 5pm.

Anyone who may have seen the lorry travelling along the road or the car, which police believe was stopped on the hard shoulder, should contact the witness line on 01622 798538.