An MP has received an apology from ministers after he was kept in the dark about proposals to close the M26 and turn it into a lorry park.

Tonbridge and Malling MP Tom Tugendhat met with the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and roads minister Jesse Norman to express his huge concern about plans to use the M26 as a lorry park in the event of a no-deal Brexit causing problems at the ports.

Mr Grayling apologised for not consulting him on the proposal, after Mr Tugendhat discovered the plan last week when the M26 was unexpectedly closed for surveying work by Highways England.

He was joined by Sir Michael Fallon, MP for Sevenoaks, who also shares his concerns.

Mr Tugendhat said: "I was pleased to meet with the Transport Secretary and Roads Minister to make it clear what a bad and unworkable idea closing the M26 to store HGVs is.

"They apologised to us for not consulting with the local community before commissioning the works.

"Thankfully the Transport Secretary agreed that other options were preferable and he would like to pursue these before the M26 was considered.

Video: Outrage in West Kent as M26 lorry park given green light

“Though they insisted that the M26 was unlikely to be needed, Sir Michael and I made clear that the local infrastructure could not cope with the plans without investment.

"The impact on villages like Platt, Borough Green and Wrotham, as well as the wider area, could be significant.

“I will continue to be in close contact with the Department for Transport to make the case for our communities.

"The M26 is unsuitable for holding HGV’s and I will do all I can to make sure it isn’t used in any scenario.”