A man has been arrested after one of Sheppey's main roads was shut off in both directions for about eight hours.

Police closed the Lower Road in Minster, between Cowstead Corner roundabout and Thistle Hill roundabout, following an early morning head-on crash between a silver Skoda Fabia and a red Toyota Hilux.

The road, which was shut at about 4am, reopened shortly before midday.

The driver of the Skoda, a man in his 60s, was driven by ambulance to London's King's College Hospital with what police say are "serious injuries".

A police helicopter was sent to search for the Toyota's driver at about 9.45am.

At about 12.30pm, police said a man had been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

Officers were initially called to reports of a serious collision on the Lower Road at 3.45am.

A spokesman said: "Officers attended and the driver of the Skoda was driven by ambulance to a London hospital with serious injuries."

Three fire engines were also called to the crash.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "A man was cut free from one vehicle by firefighters using hydraulic rescue equipment. He was then passed to the care of waiting paramedics."

An ambulance and two cars including a critical care paramedic were called at 3.55am. The Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance also supported.

A South East Coast Ambulance spokesman said: "The patient was taken by ambulance to King’s College Hospital, London, with serious chest and leg injuries."

Drivers were being diverted through Halfway and Sheerness – but both of those routes were said to have become gridlocked.

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