The A249 Sheppey Crossing has reopened after being shut for more than seven hours.

It was closed between 1pm and around 8.15pm for safety reasons due to high winds caused by Storm Doris.

It caused havoc across the county today and authorities also shut the Dartford Crossing.

Evening commuters suffered lengthy delays with traffic travelling towards the Island queuing all the way back to the Bobbing turn-off at around 7pm and did not clear until after 9pm.

A Highways England spokesman earlier said there were many factors taken into account before crossings were closed. "When it reaches 50 to 60mph is when a closure decision is considered," he said.

"But it's not just the speed of the wind, it's also the direction,"

Vehicles can cope with quite "a high-speed wind" if it is head on, he added, but when it comes from either side is when it could be dangerous.

Motorists were diverted via the Kingsferry Bridge during the crossing's closure.