M25 reopens after motorists stuck for hours

Part of the M25 has reopened after "severe and prolonged congestion".

National Highways said just before 02:00 BST that the M25 clockwise carriageway between junction five and and junction six was open following a collision and fuel spillage.

There were no delays on the approach to the area, it added.

It comes after more than 10 people were taken to hospital for "minor and heat-related conditions" as huge queues of traffic were stranded on the M25 for hours on Wednesday.

South East Coast Ambulance Service said a man was airlifted to hospital after the stretch of motorway near Godstone, Surrey, was closed.

It described the congestion as "severe and prolonged".

The UK has experienced its hottest June day on record after temperatures soared to 36.1C (97F) in Gosport, Hampshire, on Wednesday afternoon.

National Highways first reported there was disruption on Wednesday morning on the M25 in both directions at junction six for Godstone following a serious collision between a van and a lorry.

It said the traffic at the peak was queuing for 10 miles during the red heat alert.

The government agency added there was a "large spillage" that caused "extensive damage" to the carriageway.

Resurfacing works and the clean-up were completed just after 04:00 on Thursday, it said.

A number of people took to social media during the disruption to ask for help from the emergency services, including Folkestone and Hythe MP Tony Vaughan.

Addressing police and highways teams, Vaughan said: "Please sort this out urgently. People need water and some may need evacuation... this is an emergency!"

He said one constituent had been stuck on the M25 near Oxted in Surrey for eight hours.

"It is 40 degrees in her car. She has kids with her. She is running out of water," Vaughan added.

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