A man has been taken to a London hospital with serious injuries after a crash in Maidstone.

A car and a motorcycle collided on the A20 Tonbridge Road near Maidstone West railway station just after 5am.

It happened between A20 Broadway and Westree Road.

Police had to close the bridge over the railway line while they dealt with the incident, but one lane reopened at around 8.30am. The road was clear by 11am.

There were severe delays throughout Maidstone, but traffic has now eased.

A police spokesman said: "Kent Police was called at 5.17am on Friday 13 October 2017 regarding a collision involving a car and a motorcycle on Tonbridge Road, Maidstone near the junction with Station Approach.

A police spokesman said: "Kent Police was called at 5.17am on Friday 13 October 2017 regarding a collision involving a car and a motorcycle at Tonbridge Road, Maidstone near Maidstone West railway station.

"Officers and ambulance crews attended the scene and a man was taken to a London hospital with injuries that are described as serious.

"Tonbridge Road between Station Approach and Westree Road was closed while emergency services dealt with the incident and was fully reopened at around 11am."

To add to traffic woes in Maidstone, cars were also slowed on Fairmeadow coming into town and police were called after a swan got onto the carriageway.

Members of the public are reported to have picked up the swan and placed it back in the River Medway before officers arrived.