A lorry driver involved in a crash with a horse yesterday has spoken of how it ran in front of its foal to protect it from being hit - and how neither animal was seriously injured.

Matt Power, from Strood, had to swerve to avoid a foal that strayed onto the anti-clockwise carriageway.

The 24-year-old, who was delivering wood and has only been driving a lorry for three months, said he nearly crashed.

He said: "I had to swerve into the third lane trying to avoid the horse and almost went through the central reservation.

"The horse hit the front corner of the lorry and smashed the windscreen, but it was okay.

"The vet couldn't believe that it had no broken bones, just a cut to the ribs.

"I think it was protecting its baby. It was wandering out into the road and she ran in front of it whether to try and entice it back or to protect it from being hit.

"The horse reared up on its legs and then hit the windscreen which smashed. It flew through the air but landed on its feet. Somehow it was standing."

Mr Power, who was travelling at about 40mph, was not injured in the crash that caused severe delays when it happened at 7am.

The horses were taken away following the crash on the J30 exit near Lakeside, in Essex.