There were nearly 50 accidents in just one month on a stretch of the M20 that has been narrowed to two lanes while roadworks take place, it has emerged.

Highways England has faced calls to review its management of the roadworks between Junction 8 and 9 in the face of complaints that the lanes are too narrow and are dangerous for motorists.

It comes just one day after the M20 was shut for nine hours following a serious crash in which four people were injured.

Figures released by Highways England show that between July 7 and September 5 there were 47 road traffic collisions on the motorway of which 25 - more than half involved a lorry and a car.

The Ashford MP Damian Green said he had contacted Highways England about the numbers of incidents.

“I am genuinely puzzled by the fact that there appear to be more accidents when the speed limit is 50mph rather than 70mph. I have written to Highways England to ask whether the accident rate is disproportionate. It may be that if drivers can’t drive safely at 50mph,the speed limit needs to be lower.

But the important thing is that we ensure that everything is in place by next March,” he said.

Accidents on the M20 have led to serious delays and disruption in recent weeks, creating miles of tailbacks along the motorway on several occasions.

Highways England says that of four serious incidents in the four-week period, none were linked to the roadworks.

According to a Freedom of Information request, Highways England, says the serious incidents that led to drivers or passengers being taken to hospital were caused by other factors.

Its response to the request stated: “The causes of these incidents were reviewed by our TSCO (Traffic Safety Control Officer) and attributed as follows: two were caused by vehicles failing to slow down after a police rolling road block had been put in place because of a person threatening to jump from a motorway bridge and two were caused by cars failing to stop in time for a vehicle broken down in one of the lanes.

"It was therefore determined that none of these serious incidents were caused by the design of the traffic management road layout."

It said most of the other incidents involved minor collisions where insurance details were exchanged and those involved drove away.

Highways England says that it has a duty to keep a balance of safety to our workforce and road users whilst also carrying out upgrades to this section of the motorway and keeping traffic moving.