Motorists endured lengthy waits to negotiate the Dartford Crossing after the M25 was hit by a series of hold-ups.

There were long queues on the approach to the tunnel in Kent and huge tailbacks on the Essex side most of the afternoon and evening.

A broken down vehicle on the anticlockwise M25 resulted in congestion back to Junction 4 at Orpington.

All lanes have been re-opened but the left-hand tunnel had been closed.

Earlier, two people were taken to hospital following a crash involving two cars and a lorry on the clockwise carriageway near the QEII bridge in Essex.

The incident happened between junctions 1A and 1B, near the Blue Star roundabout.

Paramedics were called around 3.30pm and assessed two people at the scene for injuries. They were both taken to Princess Royal University Hospital in Orpington.

Police and traffic officers were at the scene.

Three lanes were closed and there were delays of an hour. All lanes have now been reopened.

Congestion built in the other direction this afternoon when the anti-clockwise carriageway was partially blocked due to an accident near the Dartford Tunnel.

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