TWO lanes of the M20 have now reopened following an accident which saw 400 gallons of diesel fuel spilled across the carriageway.

Motorists faced delays this morning as contractors from the Highways Agency worked to clean up the spill, which happened when a foreign-registered lorry, travelling towards the coast and carrying pallets, crashed into the central reservation and overturned shortly before midnight yesterday.

No-one was hurt in the incident near junction 6, at Sandling, Maidstone, but the road remained closed both ways between junctions 5, at Aylesford, and 7, with the A249 Sittingbourne Road, for several hours.

The London-bound carriageway was opened at around 6.45am today, but the coast-bound carriageway remained completely closed until 12 noon, when two lanes were opened.

The outside lane remains closed due to damage to the barrier.

Kent Police said a “significant amount” of traffic had built up while contractors carried out sweeping and gritting of the road.