Four people have been rushed to hospital following a series of incidents which saw Sheppey cut off from the mainland this morning.

Police were called to two separate crashes near the Kingsferry Bridge at 7.30am involving a total of two cars, a van and a single decker Arriva bus.

It is believed a black Vauxhall Corsa crashed into the front of the bus, causing serious damage to both vehicles.

The car driver became trapped and had to be cut from the wreckage by fire crews.

In the congestion which followed, a Ford Transit van collided with a Nissan Juke.

The crashes happened after police closed the Sheppey Crossing following reports of a BMW on fire on the south-bound carriageway at 6.36am.

It was re-opened at 8am, but the Kingsferry Bridge remained closed until 10.15am. Police are still at the scene.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Four people were injured in the crash - two men and two women.

"Firefighters from Eastchurch and Sittingbourne used heavy duty cutting equipment to release one man who was airlifted to hospital. Crews were stood down at 9.10am."

A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokesman added: "In total, three ambulances and one air ambulance vehicle attended.

"A man said to have suffered serious injuries was flown to London's King's College Hospital.

"Three people were also taken to Medway Maritime Hospital - a woman in her 20s and one in her 40s, who both suffered leg injuries,and a man with a back injury."

Geoff Smith, of Seagar Road, Sheerness, was stuck in the traffic approaching the Kingsferry Bridge.

He said: "There were a number of fire tenders and ambulances and approaching the scene it was obvious someone was being cut out of the black Corsa. I was in traffic for about 45 minutes."

Mr Smith, who is a qualified safety officer, questioned the logic of closing the Sheppey Crossing rather than managing traffic going over it.

He says that by forcing hundreds of cars down the Sheppey Way towards the Kingsferry, accidents were more likely to happen.

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