Long queues remain after the QE2 bridge was closed for three hours this afternoon due to strong winds.

Traffic heading into Kent had been diverted through the Dartford tunnel.

Queues on the M25 and surrounding routes stretch for miles. Footage: UKNIP

The tunnel was closed for half an hour to prepare for the contraflow.

There were delays both ways with 10 miles of congestion on the M25 in Kent as far back as junction 4.

Surrounding routes such as the A2 and roads leading to the Blackwall Tunnel were also gridlocked.

The bridge was reopened just before 5pm with traffic management in place - although temporary 30mph speed limits were removed shortly afterwards with all lanes also reopened.

The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning for Kent along with much of southern England and Wales, with windy weather expected to cause potential travel disruption and damage to temporary outdoor structures.

Elsewhere, a fallen tree crushed a van in Folkestone just seconds before its owner was about to get in and return to work.

Ferry services between Dover and Calais are facing delays of up to an hour because of strong winds.

The weather warning is expected to remain in place until 9pm.

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