PART of the M20 motorway was shut today following a collision involving an articulated lorry and a car.

The Italian lorry shed its load of tyres on the London-bound carriageway after jack-knifing in the accident by junction four at Aylesford in the early hours of the morning.

The car driver was taken to Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford with minor injuries.

The Italian driver of the lorry was not badly hurt and did not require hospital treatment.

Kent police were forced to shut the motorway between junction six at Sandling, near Maidstone, and junction four to clear the debris. The surface of the motorway was extensively damaged.