Passengers evacuated a coach which caught fire on the M2 this evening.

The dramatic blaze happened at 6.20pm between J2 for Strood/Rochester and J3 for the A229/Maidstone, just before the Medway bridge.

The Lehane Travel bus caught alight in lane one of the motorway, which was completely closed coast-bound between the two junctions.

It is believed to have started because of an overheated engine, and the vehicle was completely destroyed.

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The 53 seater coach was put out after crews used a hose reel jet and compressed air foam system to extinguish the blaze.

Nobody was injured in the fire, but some eyewitnesses reported seeing youngsters being ushered to safety on the hard shoulder.

Traffic was being diverted off at J2 with a diversion in place via the A289, A2, A278 to re-join M2 at J4.

At 7.20pm, a Kent Police spokesman said: "Officers attended the scene with Kent Fire and Rescue and the fire has now been extinguished.

"All the occupants of the coach have safely left the vehicle.

"Lanes 1 and 2 of the carriageway remain closed while recovery is arranged."

One driver who passed the blaze said he could feel the heat from the fire through the glass of his car, three lanes away.

All lanes had reopened by 9pm.

Lehane Travel, based in Canterbury, provides private coaches for hire.