THIS was the reason for major traffic jams in mid-Kent today. The M2 had to be shut for more than seven hours after the juggernaut jack-knifed and overturned between the Sittingbourne and Faversham turn-offs.

It ended up straddled across the central reservation near the Sawpit Road overbridge, south of Rodmersham.

The Scottish driver of a Ford Mondeo had to swerve to avoid colliding with the lorry as it slewed across the London-bound carriageway as the car was going coastbound. The car was forced half way up a steep embankment and was lucky not to roll down it.

Thirteen tons of blue paint powder spilled from bags which fell from the curtain-sides of the lorry so the Environment Agency, as well as Mid Kent Water, were called to stop it spreading into nearby water courses.

The drama happened at 10am when the driver said he had a dizzy spell as he approached the bridge so he had to take avoiding action in order not to hit it.

One of the first on the scene was crew commander Steve Adams from Sittingbourne fire station, who said: "His diesel tank was ripped off by the bridge abutment so it was extremely fortunate that the lorry did not end up embedded in the bridge. He was able to get out his cab uninjured and seemed OK when I was talking to him..

The lorry had crossed the channel from Holland and was on its way to Hull.

Severe traffic jams were caused on the A2 and surrounding narrow lanes after the crash as police had no option but to close the motorway between junctions five and six. Crash barriers had been severely damaged in the area of the smash after the lorry hit them.