Drivers on the M25 in Kent faced major disruption today after a lorry fire led to road closures and significant delays during the morning commute.

The incident occurred between Junctions 4 and 5 (clockwise) and Junctions 6 and 5 (anti-clockwise), prompting National Highways to temporarily hold all traffic in both directions to allow emergency services to respond safely.

The link road from the M25 clockwise to the A21 southbound was also closed as a result of the blaze.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service was quickly dispatched to the scene and worked to bring the flames under control. Fortunately, the fire has now been extinguished, and traffic has been released on both sides of the motorway.

In an update, National Highways South-East confirmed:

“@kentfirerescue have got the fire under control. Traffic on the #M25 in #Kent has been released J4-J5 clockwise and J6-5 anti-clockwise. The link roads from the #M25 onto the #A21 south remain CLOSED at this stage.”

Despite the reopening of the main carriageway, drivers are still facing delays of up to 60 minutes in both directions, with long tailbacks continuing to affect traffic flow in the area.

Motorists are being advised to allow extra time for journeys, consider alternative routes where possible, and check live travel updates before setting off.

There have been no reports of injuries, and an investigation into the cause of the fire is expected to follow.

Further updates will be provided by National Highways as recovery and clean-up operations continue.