A man has been cut free from his car following a four-vehicle crash on Blue Bell Hill this morning.

Traffic built up on the southbound side of the A229, about two miles north of Maidstone, before junction 6 of the M20, as a result of the collision at 8.30am.

Firefighters spent more than an hour rescuing the man before handing him over to ambulance crews.

An ambulance spokesman said two men, a 54-year-old who was a passenger in one of the cars, and a 41-year-old driver, were both treated at the scene for chest and spinal injuries before being taken to Medway Maritime Hospital.

Their injuries were not described as life-threatening.

A woman in her early 20s was also checked for injuries but did not require treatment, the spokesman added.

Immediately after the accident, one lane was closed and traffic was backed up to the Lord Lees roundabout.

The lane was reopened at 10.40am and queues have now cleared.