A man and two women have been rushed to hospital with serious injuries following a crash which closed a busy route.

The A249 was shut northbound between the A2 Key Street Roundabout near Keycol and the B2005 Grovehurst Road for Iwade and Kemsley while police carried out investigation work on the collision between a car and van overnight. The route has now been reopened.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving following the crash at about 11.50pm last night.

The male driver of the car and a female passenger were taken to a London hospital for treatment to serious injuries.

A second woman in the car was taken to a local hospital, also with serious injuries, while the driver of the van was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Highways England are warning commuters to plan ahead as the road is likely to remain closed throughout the morning rush hour.

Police remain at the scene.

Meanwhile, a second accident between two vans and a car has partially blocked the M2 coastbound in the queues caused by the A249 crash.

Firefighters used hydraulic cutting equipment to free one of the van drivers before passing him into the care of ambulance crews.

Traffic is building from Junction 4 for Gillingham to Junction 5 for Sittingbourne.

Listen to kmfm for more travel updates.