TRAFFIC on the approach to the Dartford crossing tunnels (northbound anticlockwise) is beginning to clear after a lengthy period of congestion caused by a broken down lorry.

Quues built up around noon as the vehicle became stranded and at one point tailed back onto adjoining roads - and as far as five miles back on the M25.

However, the vehicle has been recovered and at 2.30pm National Highways reported there were only short delays of around ten minutes maximum and they expected that to decrease in the near future.