A man died on a busy bypass sparking hours of traffic chaos.

Emergency services were called to a stretch of the A21 near Sevenoaks shortly after 4pm following reports of an injured person on the road.

Police officers and South East Coast Ambulance Service attended the northbound carriageway where the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Kent Highways were also called out, and both carriageways were closed while an investigation into the circumstances began. Motorists were trapped for hours while they waited for the road to reopen.

One lane of the southbound carriageway was eventually reopened at 9.15pm, with the second lane reopening at 10pm. The northbound carriageway - where the dead man was found - reopened at around midnight.

Police say inquiries are continuing in an effort to trace the deceased's next of kin, and a report has been completed for the coroner.

Ch Insp Mark Stubberfield, of Sevenoaks community safety unit, said: "Patrols had to close both carriageways to ensure emergency services at the scene were not placed at risk while a comprehensive investigation was completed into this tragic incident.

"It is unfortunate that this caused considerable delays on the A21 and surrounding roads, but it was vital that all potential witnesses were identified and spoken to, and a full forensic examination completed at the scene to allow a detailed report to be submitted to the coroner."

One driver said hundreds of people had been "stranded" in the closed stretch of the road.

Traffic did not move for hours and she said no attempt was made to get motorists off the road so they could continue their journeys.

Responding to complaints, police tweeted: "Traffic was turned around where possible."

Read more: All the latest news from Sevenoaks