Drivers were faced with a traffic nightmare this morning when a lorry broke down on one of the county's major roads and spilled oil over the carriageway.

The Spanish-reigstered vehicle was travelling on the north-bound stretch of the A249 towards Sittingbourne when it had problems at the top of Detling Hill.

Police closed the carriageway for close to four hours after the incident at around 4.45am while the road was made safe.

Motorists were hit by tailbacks stretching back to the M20 and redirected traffic also queued on the alternative A229 route.

The road was reopened just before 8.20am.