M20 opens after pile-up

A motorway closed after a pile-up in the early hours of this morning has now reopened, police said.

Emergency services were called just after midnight to a collision involving four lorries on the coast-bound carriageway of the M20 near junction nine in Kent.

Two lorry drivers were taken to hospital with serious injuries. The other two lorry drivers were uninjured in the incident.

Traffic was diverted off the M20 at junction nine into the afternoon and directed through Ashford on the A20, to rejoin the motorway at junction 10.

"Motorists are advised there are delays in the area which will continue until this evening, a Kent Police spokesman said.

"Recovery of the lorries has not been completed yet. Two of the lorries had to be unloaded to enable this."

The road will need to be assessed for damage and repair when it is finally cleared, he added.

Police were not able to say what the lorries were carrying.

PA