An 18-year-old is in police custody after a serious crash which closed a busy road for about eight hours.

Police shut the Lower Road in Minster, between Cowstead Corner roundabout and Thistle Hill roundabout, yesterday following an early morning head-on crash between a silver Skoda Fabia and a red Toyota Hilux.

The road was closed from about 4am and reopened shortly before midday.

The driver of the Skoda, a man in his 60s, was driven by ambulance to London's King's College Hospital with what police said were "serious injuries".

A police helicopter was then sent to search for the Toyota's driver at about 9.45am and a young man was subsequently arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

The 18-year-old, from West Malling, remains in police custody.

Officers were initially called to reports of a serious collision on the Lower Road at 3.45am yesterday.

Three fire engines were also called and the driver of the Skoda had to be cut free by firefighters using hydraulic rescue equipment, before he was passed to the care of waiting paramedics.

A South East Coast Ambulance spokesman said: "The patient was taken by ambulance to King’s College Hospital, London, with serious chest and leg injuries."