Motorists pulled off the smashed windscreen off an overturned lorry so the seriously injured driver could escape.

The lorry is believed to have suffered a blown tyre which sent it careering off the coast-bound carriageway and onto the grass verge between junction 8 for Hollingbourne and 9 for Ashford.

Charlie Morton, from Ashford, was driving home in his van when he saw the lorry leave the road.

Mr Morton said: "I was second back from it. We all stopped as fast as we could in a big cloud of dust and ran down the bank to help the driver.

"He was standing up in his cab when we got there. We had to lift the side of the broken windscreen so he could clamber out.

"He was in shock, but he could talk.

"It was me and four other guys, and two women who stayed with him, and one of woman held a t-shirt to his wound."

The driver suffered chest injuries in the crash which are not thought to be life-threatening.

The coast-bound carriageway was closed to allow the air ambulance to land and he was air lifted to hospital.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called and helped paramedics with the injured driver.

The M20 has now been reopened and delays are clearing.