One person has been injured after a lorry hit a motorway bridge, causing it to collapse and bring traffic to a halt on one of the busiest travel days of the year.
The M20 in Kent was closed in both directions, between junctions three and four, after the bridge collapsed on Saturday afternoon.
South East Coast Ambulance Service confirmed a motorcyclist, aged in their 50s, had been taken to hospital with suspected broken ribs.
Their condition is not thought to be life-threatening.
Nobody is believed to be trapped in the debris.
Highways England said the collapse, on the eastbound carriageway, was caused by a “vehicle striking the bridge”.
As a consequence, the M26 in Kent had been closed eastbound between the M25 junction 25, and the M20 junction 3 to “assist management of traffic”.
“Road users are being strongly urged to plan ahead and use alternative routes. The road is expected to be closed for an extended duration,” they added.
The collapse on the motorway – a main route to the Channel Tunnel and Port of Dover – occurred on the busiest day of the Bank Holiday getaway, with the AA estimating 10 million drivers will take to roads across the UK on Saturday.
[Police were] called at 12.07pm on Saturday August 27 to a report of abridge collapse between junction 4 and junction 3 on the M20 London-bound. It is believed a lorry collided with a pedestrian bridge which has collapsed onto the carriageway below.
No people are believed to be trapped in the debris, however one person is believed to have suffered injuries, not reported to be life-threatening at this time.
Police are treating this as a major incident and the M20 has been closed in both directions to allow this incident to be dealt with. Traffic will be heavier than usual.
– KENT POLICE