Sub-zero temperatures have led to eight accidents - one fatal - and the closure of a main arterial road in Kent on Wednesday.

The fatality happened just before the Brenley Corner roundabout on the Thanet Way near Faversham, when the driver of a BMW left the slip road on the London-bound carriageway and went into a ditch at 8.30am. No other vehicles were involved.

Police have closed the whole of the Thanet Way and are carrying out a crash investigation.

~Listen: Keith Ferrin of Kent County Council explains why the road wasn't gritted overnight>>>

Officers also ordered the road to be gritted.

We understand the road and the slip roads may not have been gritted on Tuesday night, despite freezing temperatures and the threat of snow.

One car and an ambulance have overturned amid the chaos.

Poilce spokesman Jo Robertson said: "Don't go out, don't even try to get on to the Thanet Way. If you need to go out, find alternatives routes."

On the coastbound Thanet Way the Whitstable slip road was closed after three cars – two Fords and a Peugeot – collided at 8.15am.

A gritter eventually arrived at 9.40am, but some 50 vehicles were trapped on the road.

An onlooker said: "It looks a pretty miserable scene.

"I felt sorry for the people sitting in their cars not going anywhere."

There were other accidents on the London-bound carriageway of the Thanet Way at Herne Bay and at the Monkton roundabout in Thanet.

Police eventually began turning some traffic around and directing it off the dual carriageway.