Motorists are facing hours of delays on the M2 after a large lorry fire.

The London-bound carriageway remains shut at Junction 2 near Rochester, with some drivers claiming they’ve been severely delayed.

Matt Leipnik said: “People have been stuck on the M2 for nearly four hours now. The diversion was not suitable and why let people join the motorway at Junction 3 if the main carriageway is still shut.”

While X user Buz_si added: “I joined it at 7.15am and I finally got past it all at midday. As you said they shouldn’t be letting people join at Junction 3. It’s a joke and no one is working either.”

Meanwhile Rebecca King is stuck in the traffic after joining at 10am and still had one mile to go at 2.20pm.

Natalie Moore warned other drivers to “avoid the M2” after sitting in traffic for over two and half hours despite her normal journey taking her 25 minutes.

Another driver told KentOnline his usual route from Bluebell Hill to the Strood turn-off takes him five to 10 minutes , but today’s journey took him more than two hours.

The link road to and from the A228 Sundridge Hill is also closed, and there is no entry coastbound from Junction 2.

Traffic is queuing for four miles due to the closures, with congestion going back over the Medway Viaduct.

However, the M2 coastbound has reopened.

Once the debris has been cleared the authorities will need to inspect the damage to the bridge, barrier and surfaces.

The motorway was closed for several hours overnight near Rochester after residents reported hearing “loud explosions” as the vehicle ignited.

A resident in Borstal, Rochester, said: "We heard four or five bangs.

“People have been going out to try to see what it happening after hearing the bangs. It looks like they have shut the motorway."

Another witness said they had “never seen anything so scary in my life.”

“I’m shaken, hope the driver survived.”

Both carriageways were closed last night between Junction 3 for Chatham and Junction 2 for Strood, and eastbound between Junction 1 and Junction 2, due to the HGV blaze.