An urgent meeting of the people involved in managing the Dartford Crossing has been called following the lack of improvement to traffic.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson has called for all parties involved with the crossing to discuss the traffic problems that are continuing to occur despite a £62 million investment in the removal of the toll booths.

The meeting will be attended by Highways England, the Department for Transport, Kent Police, Kent County Council, and Dartford Borough Council on Thursday to see what can be done to improve traffic.

Mr Johnson said: "I have called this meeting to get everyone involved together to see if we can alleviate the problems experienced by both the users of the crossing and local residents with congestion at the Dartford Crossing and its impact on surrounding roads.

"This stretch of road is the worst in the UK and it is right that we bring together the local councils, police and Highways England to see what can be done to improve the situation.

"The Dartford Crossing is used by thousands of people every day and we cannot continue to have the levels of congestion we experienced over the summer.

"I maintain that removing the toll booths was the right thing to do but we should have seen greater improvements than we have experienced.

"In the long term we need to build another crossing away from Dartford but in the meantime it is vital that we do all we can to reduce traffic congestion in the area."

Jeremy Kite, leader of Dartford council, said: "The decision over the location of the new crossing is one of the most important facing the local economy and the ability of local people to get around.

"Tackling congestion now is also extremely important. I am pleased to be working with the MP on this initiative that takes the issue to the heart of Government."