Several people have been injured after a cement mixer crashed into a row of eight vehicles waiting in traffic, pushing one on its side.

A major operation was launched in Cuxton, near Strood , following the incident shortly after 1pm when the truck reportedly lost a wheel and ploughed into the vehicles travelling in the opposite direction.

VIDEO: Cars damaged and several injured after cement mixer crashes into row of vehicles in Cuxton

The cement mixer, travelling south towards Halling, has come to rest in bushes on Rochester Road with a trail of destruction in its wake up the hill.

Witnesses reported seeing up to 10 ambulances at the scene and the air ambulance landed in a nearby school.

The ambulance service confirmed five patients have been taken to hospital but nobody is believed to be seriously injured.

The crash happened on the A228 a few hundreds yards south of the White Hart pub located in the centre of the village.

Police confirmed it involved a total of nine vehicles.

It is believed the mixer was travelling down the hill and collided with at least four other vehicles travelling along Rochester Road queuing at traffic lights to get through a section of roadworks.

A roadblock has been set up in the southbound direction from the pub.

Driver Tim Rogers was waiting in traffic at red lights to get through the roadworks when he saw the cement mixer barrelling towards him.

The 54-year-old IT manager, who is nicknamed Lucky at work, told KentOnline he saw cars "flying everywhere" as he described how he was fortunate not to be one of the ones worst affected by the collision.

Cars have been stuck in traffic and the road has been closed in both directions.

Drivers said they saw several police cars along with at least four ambulances and fire engines heading towards the scene.

A fire service spokesman said three crews had been sent to the scene at 1.04pm "responding to crash involving several vehicles".

Three fire engines were sent to the scene and crews had to cut the roof off one vehicle to rescue a casualty stuck inside.

Firefighters left the scene at about 2.15pm but police remain there this afternoon.

Ambulance service spokesman Rich Airey said: "Ambulance crews including our Hazardous Area Response Team and the air ambulance service attended the scene.

"Five patients have been taken to Medway Maritime Hospital for further treatment after being assessed and treated at the scene. All patients were taken to hospital by road."

It is not yet known how serious their injuries are but Mr Airey said they were believed to be minor.

Police spokesman James Walker said: "Kent Police was called to a collision involving nine vehicles on the A228 in Cuxton.

Officers attended the scene alongside Kent Fire and Rescue Service and South East Coast Ambulance Service. At present, there are no reports of serious injuries."

Motorists were advised to find alternative routes until the vehicles could be recovered.

Rev Roger Knight, parish priest for Cuxton and Halling, who lives close to the scene of the crash said he'd heard the sirens and the traffic noise decrease but did not witness the crash.

He added: "This road is a nightmare and it takes far more traffic than it was ever designed for.

"We've had lots of roadworks and closures but there always seems to be accidents [when there are roadworks]."

The driver of the cement mixer is believed to be okay but a representative from Northfleet-based Fleetmix said the company could not comment further.

The road was finally reopened in both directions at about 6.30pm.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway