A multi-vehicle smash this afternoon closed the A249 and is causing miles of traffic tailbacks, and another accident further up the road is adding to delays.

The first involved a lorry and two cars on the Maidstone-bound carriageway near the Stockbury roundabout, at 3.30pm.

One motorist, who was heading to Sheppey, said: "It had already happened when I drove past.

"It looked like one car had crashed into a lorry and another car had crashed into the back of that.

"The emergency services weren't there, but I saw a fire engine and an ambulance coming down as I continued driving.

"The cars looked horrendous. One of the worst wreckages I've seen."

Despite the appearance of the vehicles involved, police say just one driver received minor injuries in the crash.

Two fire engines were called and firefighters assessed one person, but after discussion with paramedics, decided they did not need to cut the driver from their car.

One lane is now open from the A249 to the M2.

The second crash happenend at about 6pm on the Maidstone-bound carriageway, 100 metres from the Bobbing slip road.

Eyewitnesses report two cars were involved and one ambulance was at the scene.

Motorists are reporting delays of more than an hour, with many caught in the traffic on the way home from work. Tailbacks have built up for miles in both directions.

Traffic is backing up all the way up the A249 into Sittingbourne, with cars queuing on Grovehurst Road according to eyewitnesses.

On the other side of the road there is more trouble for drivers as a burst water main has closed one lane of the Sheppey-bound duel carriageway at the top of Detling Hill, near the county showground.

Engineers are on the scene.

A police spokesman said: “We were called at 3.30pm to a report of a road traffic collision involving two cars and a lorry on the A249 Maidstone-bound near the Stockbury roundabout.

The road is blocked and has been closed from the slip at Key Street to allow for vehicle recovery.”