A main road linking two of Kent’s motorways is likely to remain closed for four hours as emergency services deal with a serious accident.

Around 7.30am today, a car left the road at Detling, on the Sittingbourne-bound carriageway of the A249 near the Lilly Spice restaurant, and collided with a tree.

Both sides of the road from the Stockbury roundabout to the roundabout at junction 7 of the M20 are now closed to allow the Kent Air Ambulance to land. The injured driver is expected to be flown direct to a hospital in London.

The driver, who was alone in his car, has suffered life-threatening injuries and has been treated at the scene by ambulance crews. A crew from Kent Fire and Rescue Service used hydraulic equipment to cut him free from the car.

Police say the Sittingbourne-bound carriageway is likely to remain closed until at least 1pm. The slip road onto the A249 at junction 7 of the M20 has also been closed, leading to huge tailbacks in the area.

Police advise that any traffic heading for the M2 and Sittingbourne should use a different route.

The cause of the collision is not known at the moment.