It's misery for motorists anywhere near the A249 junction with the M2 tonight as police battle to clear three separate crashes.

Delays began at 3pm this afternoon when two cars slipped off the M2 on the London-bound carriageway near junction 5 - the Sittingbourne and Maidstone turn-off.

A police spokesman said: "It was reported that a car was towing a second car when they both left the carriageway. Officers attended the scene."

No injuries were reported.

But as a recovery team began to lift the cars out of the ditch two more crashes were reported on the nearby A249.

A lorry was in collision with a Vauxhall Corsa on the Maidstone-bound carriageway between Key Street and Stockbury with queues stretching back to Key Street.

On the other side of the Stockbury roundabout, police and an ambulance crew were dealing with a third crash near the Hucking turn-off on the Sittingbourne-bound carriageway involving two cars.

A witness said queues of traffic is stretching back the county showground at the top of Detling hill.

On top of that, another crash was reported at Key Street between two cars. Police and ambulance were called to that, too.