M2 in Kent remains closed in both directions more than 12 hours after a serious crash near Medway Services

The M2 has been shut since 9.10pm Tuesday after a serious collision on the coastbound carriageway close to Medway Services in Kent, with accident investigation work still continuing more than 12 hours later. Kent Police cautioned that the closure would last "a significant period of time," with the London-bound stretch between junctions five and four expected to reopen around noon and the coastbound section between junctions three and five not likely to clear until between 3.45pm and 4pm.

Queues have stretched to three miles on the London-bound side and two miles on the coastbound side, with the A249, A229 and A2 around Rainham also heavily congested.

One driver in Sittingbourne said the queue back to Wickes had taken him 30 minutes to travel half a mile, calling conditions 'mayhem'.

Diversions are routing London-bound drivers via the A249 to the M20 and back via the A228, with coastbound traffic sent via the A229 through Maidstone.