More than 30 vehicles involved in M20 pile-up as two suffer serious injuries

More than 30 vehicles were involved in a major pile-up on the M20 in Kent that left two people seriously injured and brought part of the motorway to a standstill.

Emergency services were called to the crash on the London-bound carriageway between junctions eight and nine shortly after 6.40pm on Saturday.

The collision happened in foggy conditions and prompted a huge emergency response, with firefighters, paramedics and an air ambulance among those sent to the scene.

Kent Police said more than 30 vehicles were involved in the incident.

Paramedics assessed 11 people following the crash, while two casualties suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.

One was transported to a hospital in Kent and the other taken to a specialist hospital in London, according to police.

A number of other motorists and passengers were also injured, although their injuries were not believed to be serious.

The scale of the collision led to lengthy road closures as emergency crews worked to help those involved, assess damaged vehicles and make the motorway safe.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service said three fire engines and a technical rescue unit were deployed to the scene alongside ambulance crews.

National Highways confirmed there had been "thick fog" in the area at the time of the collision.

Investigators are now examining the circumstances that led to the crash.

The M20 is one of the main routes linking London with Kent and the Channel ports, carrying large numbers of commuter, freight and leisure journeys every day. Any major incident on the motorway can quickly lead to significant congestion and disruption across the wider road network.

Drivers travelling through the area on Saturday evening faced major delays as emergency services dealt with the aftermath of the collision.

The motorway was shut in both directions during the response operation, allowing crews access to damaged vehicles and enabling investigators to begin gathering evidence.

The route reopened later on Sunday after recovery and safety work had been completed.

Police have launched inquiries into the circumstances of the crash and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Officers are particularly keen to hear from motorists who may have been travelling through the area shortly before the incident or who captured footage on dashboard cameras.

In a statement, Kent Police said anyone with information relating to the collision should contact the force.

Dashcam footage could prove especially important in helping collision investigators piece together exactly how the incident developed and the sequence of events that led to such a large number of vehicles becoming involved.

The serious injuries sustained by two people mean inquiries are likely to focus closely on road conditions, visibility and vehicle movements in the moments before the collision.

Emergency services remained at the scene for hours dealing with the aftermath, while recovery operators worked to remove damaged vehicles from the motorway.

Police have not released details of the injured people, and no arrests have been reported.