A TUNNEL at the Dartford Crossing, closed early today after a lorry accident which caused miles of tailbacks, has been re-opened.

One of the two Essex-bound tunnels had been shut after the truck struck one of its ventilation fans.

The damage has now been repaired and the tunnel re-opened at 2.30pm this afternoon.

A Highways Agency spokesman said: "There have been long tailbacks as the route had only been working at half capacity. Now we have carried out the repairs and the tunnel is re-opened."

The lorry had collided with one of the jet fans in the western tunnel at about 6.15am, causing a 300m length of damage to the ceiling.

Highways Agency engineers were called in to repair damaged tiles and panelling.

But the incident caused all M25 anti-clockwise traffic to use the eastern tunnel, leading to 10-mile delays back past Junction 3 with the M20.

A knock-on effect of delays built up on other routes. Traffic on Princes Road, Dartford, heading towards the M25 route, queued right back to Lowfield Street.