A motorway was closed after a "distressed" horse partially kicked its way out of a horsebox and "got stuck".

The M26 was shut in both directions between the M25 Junction 5 at Sevenoaks and Junction 2A at Wrotham from about 6pm today.

Police and firefighters were called to help, along with a specialist vet.

A fire service spokesman said: "KFRS was called to reports of a horse in distress while in transit on the M26 London-bound at 5.43pm.

"The 14-year-old 16.2 hands Irish draft horse, one of two in the horsebox, had partially kicked its way free and got stuck in the process.

"Crews assisted with scene safety while National Highways traffic officers escorted a vet and spare horsebox to the scene.

"The distressed animal was sedated and transferred to the second horsebox for onward travel."

A police spokesman confirmed officers closed the M26 in both directions just before Junction 6 "due to concerns for the welfare of a horse being transported in a horsebox".

The incident caused four miles of congestion, with drivers being advised to divert via Junction 3 of the M25 then south on the M20.

As of about 8.45pm, the motorway had been reopened.