THERE has been significant traffic disruption this afternoon in the west of Thurrock and long delays on the M25 following a serious crash in Kent.

The multiple vehicle incident, which included at least two lorries, happened earlier this afternoon (Wednesday, 15 December) close to junction one on the clockwise M25 carriageway.

The motorway was completely closed for some time and, by 4pm, there were still only two lanes open.

In the wake of the crash traffic built up back across the QEII bridge and eventually as far back as junction 27. It was taking more than an hour to get from junction 29 to the crossing when traffic eventually began to move.

And the static traffic on the motorway spilled over, causing delays in both directions of the a13 and on other local roads, with congestion particularly bad around Lakeside.