A motorcyclist has been airlifted to hospital following a crash on a busy road.

Police were called to the Maidstone-bound carriageway of the A249 following reports of a collision involving a motorbike and a van.

They attended shortly before 5pm and with the assistance of paramedics the motorcyclist was airlifted to a London hospital.

The road was fully closed between Key Street and junction 5 for the Stockbury roundabout from this time.

The Sittingbourne-bound carriageway was also shut for a short while to allow the air ambulance to land.

That carriageway is open again but one lane of the Maidstone-bound carriageway remains closed this evening to allow recovery of the vehicles.

Motorists headed from the Isle of Sheppey towards the county town reported being caught up in queues for around three hours this evening but traffic is now said to be easing.

It also impacted those travelling along the A2 into Sittingbourne.