TWO men are seriously ill in hospital after their car caught fire following a crash on the M20 motorway in the early hours of Saturday.

The men, both in their 30s and from Maidstone, were in a Mercedes car which was in collision with a Dutch-registered Volvo articulated lorry on the coastbound carriageway between junction one of the M25 and junction two at Wrotham near the Brands Hatch racing circuit.

The car was wedged under the lorry and both vehicles caught fire. Passing motorists rescued the driver and passenger from the burning car. They were taken to Maidstone Hospital where their condition was described as serious. The lorry driver was not injured.

Fire crews from Larkfield and Swanley tackled the burning vehicles and the motorway was closed for five hours while the road was cleared. Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident. Anyone with any information is asked to call PC Terry Collins at Kent Traffic Police on 01622 690690.