Kent has been feeling some of the impact of bad weather today as high winds knocked down trees and delayed journeys.

Delays of up to two hours were reported on DFDS Seaways ferries travelling between Dover and Dunkirk due to high winds while traffic was brought to a standstill due to a fallen tree in Gillingham.

Traffic monitoring organisation INRIX reported the tree was blocking Ambley Road in Gillingham, between Hoath Way and Bailey Drive, just after 3pm today. The road was closed in both directions and traffic was said to be building.

There was also traffic chaos on the M25 earlier this morning after another tree fell on the anticlockwise sliproad at junction 4 of the M25.

A spokesman for Kent Police confirmed officers were attending a report of a tree falling on a car in Ambley Road, Gillingham.

“Officers were called to the scene at 12.14pm on Saturday 21 October 2023. Kent Fire and Rescue Service is also in attendance. No injuries have been reported.

“Work is ongoing to clear the road.”

Kent Fire and Rescue confirmed it also attended the fallen tree at 12.15pm and stayed for over half an hour to check the welfare of the two occupants of the car.

A spokesman for KFRS said: “Kent Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a tree that had fallen on a car on Ambley Road, Gillingham.

“Both passengers were out of the vehicle of arrival and crews stayed with them to be sure they weren't suffering from shock.”

A crash at about 1.15pm closed part of the M20 coastbound after an accident between Junction 4 (Leybourne) near Snodland and Junction 5 (Aylesford).

One lane was closed and traffic was queuing for four miles. That has now reopened.

There was also an accident on the A21 Tonbridge by-pass southbound from A225 (Hildenborough/Sevenoaks turn-off, Sevenoaks Weald) to the A26 Quarry Hill Road (Tonbridge) but that had cleared by 4.45pm.

The Met Office put out a weather warning for Kent this morning, advising there could be thunderstorms.

The county has, however, escaped problems large parts of the country are suffering as Storm Babet wreaks havoc.