ONE of Medway’s busiest roads was closed for six hours yesterday because of fears of an explosion following a crash involving a lorry and a tractor.

Police, ambulance and fire crews were called to the junction of the Wainscott Bypass and the A226 Gravesend Road shortly before 10am.

A lorry carrying bin bags crashed into the central reservation and caught fire. The driver escaped the flaming cab and was treated for minor injuries.

There were fears of an explosion as diesel had spilled from the lorry.

A tractor with a trailer full of spinach was also hit and rolled over.

Fire crews rescued the driver, who was taken to Gillingham's Medway Maritime Hospital with minor injuries, and dealt with a spillage of oil from the tractor’s engine.

There were long tailbacks as police shut the Wainscott Bypass between the junction of the B200 Cliffe Road and the junction of the A289 Gravesend Road. Lanes were also closed at the bottom of Four Elms Hill.

A salvage operation was launched to recover the vehicles and roads were reopened just before 4pm.