The Roundhill Tunnels near Folkestone were closed last night because police were worried about a man who was spotted in the road, a spokesman revealed this morning.

The London-bound carriageway of the tunnel on the A20 was shut from 10.45pm to just after 1am leaving queues of traffic trapped inside.

Police officers and Highways Agency employees turned the vehicles around while a trained negotiator spoke to the pedestrian and eventually persuaded him to accept medical assistance from paramedics in a waiting ambulance.

Traffic was diverted through Folkestone onto the M20 at junction 13.