Rush hour traffic ground to a halt after a lorry jacknifed on a main road in freezing conditions.

It happened on the coastbound A20 near Capel-le-Ferne, at 7.50am on Monday.

The lorry had crashed into a barrier, causing a diesel spillage and the driver injured his shoulder.

Folkestone fire station crew manager Anton Hart said: “It may have been due to the adverse weather conditions. We helped the driver out of his cab but it was so cold that he went back inside before an ambulance took him away.”

The accident was between the Round Hill tunnel and Court Wood roundabout.
Two fire engines, from the Dover and Folkestone stations, were called and the crews blocked drains to prevent the diesel pouring into them.

The Environment Agency and Highways Agency were also called out and workers soaked up the spilt diesel with sand.

The accident had happened during snow flurries with snow and ice building up on the edges of the carriageways. Temperatures had plummeted to -2C.

Commuters at first were left stuck in a long, growing tailback but began moving again in an hour as a lane was freed up.

The driver was taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Asfhord for a check-up.