M26: Two Dead After Five-Car Motorway Pile Up

Two people have died after a pile up involving five cars on the M26 motorway in Kent.

Two lorries, two cars and a box van were involved in the collision on the west-bound side of the road on Wednesday morning.

A further seven had to receive hospital treatment.

Six of the injured were taken to the Royal London, St George's and King's College hospitals in London. The other was taken to hospital in Surrey.

Police said those taken to hospital were in a "serious condition" while Kent Fire and Rescue Service said two children were released from one of the cars.

The crash closed the M26, which joins the M25 with the M20, in both directions just after 9.30am.

Kent Police said one lane of the east-bound stretch had later opened but the west-bound stretch was expected to remain closed until 10pm.

Traffic on the west-bound carriageway had to be turned round and redirected back to the M20, causing traffic chaos on surrounding roads in the area.

Many Twitter users reported being stuck in the resulting traffic jams for several hours.

The Red Cross sent its emergency teams to help those stranded, many of whom found themselves in stationary cars in unusually hot April weather.

A spokesman said: "Fire and emergency response volunteers are on hand to provide food, water and first aid where needed to people caught in the congestion."

A Highways Agency spokesman said contractors were helping emergency services to try to reopen the road.

Police appealed for anyone who saw what caused the crash, or the events leading up to it, to get in touch.