A lorry fire on the M25 anticlockwise at Junction 2, the A2 Darenth Interchange, is causing major congestion this afternoon, with traffic queueing back to Junction 3, the M20 Swanley Interchange.
The incident is affecting one of the busiest sections of the orbital motorway, where the M25 meets the A2 near Dartford. Drivers heading anticlockwise towards the Dartford Crossing are caught in the queues, which stretch back through the Swanley area.
No further details about the fire have been confirmed at this stage, including whether any lanes have reopened or how long the disruption is expected to last. This is a developing traffic update and the picture may change quickly as emergency services deal with the incident.
Drivers approaching the area are advised to allow extra time, follow the overhead gantry signs and check National Highways updates before setting off. Those already caught in the queues should stay in their vehicles where it is safe to do so and keep emergency access routes clear.
The Darenth Interchange is a key junction for traffic joining the M25 from the A2, and disruption there tends to spread quickly in both directions during the afternoon peak. Delays on this stretch can also knock on to the nearby Dartford Crossing, one of the most heavily used river crossings in the country.
We will update this article as more information becomes available.
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Image: The M25 at Darenth (library photo, Wikimedia Commons).
Update: recovery and clean-up are now being arranged at Junction 2, with delays of 34 minutes and four miles of congestion reported on the anticlockwise carriageway.
