This is a developing story — updates below as we get them.
All traffic on the M25 has been brought to a complete standstill in both directions following a crash near Orpington this afternoon. The collision happened between Junction 4 for Orpington and Junction 3 for Swanley, where the motorway meets the M20, and was first reported at around 2.55pm on Saturday 4 October.
Every lane is currently held on both carriageways, with nothing able to get past the scene of the crash. That means drivers heading clockwise towards Kent and those travelling anticlockwise towards Surrey and south London are both stuck, and long queues are building on each side of the motorway while emergency services deal with the incident.
Motorists are being urged to avoid the area if they can and to check live traffic information before setting off. We will keep this page updated as the situation develops — follow the live entries below for the latest news.
Live updates
What we know so far
- A crash on the M25 was first reported at around 2.55pm on Saturday 4 October.
- The incident is between Junction 4 at Orpington and Junction 3 at Swanley, the interchange with the M20.
- All lanes are stopped in both directions and no traffic can pass the scene.
- Queues are building on both carriageways while the incident is dealt with.
Which junctions are affected
The stoppage sits on the south-eastern stretch of the orbital, between Junction 4 — the A21 interchange serving Orpington — and Junction 3 at Swanley, where the M25 meets the M20 towards Kent. With both carriageways fully held, the disruption is hitting drivers travelling between south-east London and Kent, as well as anyone using the A21 towards Bromley and Sevenoaks or joining the M20.
It is the second major M25 incident of the day, after traffic was also halted between Swanley and Dartford following a separate crash. The motorway has seen repeated disruption in recent weeks, including a multi-vehicle crash that brought it to a standstill between Godstone and Sevenoaks. Drivers planning weekend journeys can also check our guide to planned M25 closures and diversions.
Advice for drivers
Anyone planning to travel this evening is advised to avoid the area around Junctions 3 and 4 altogether and to allow plenty of extra time for any journey that would normally use this stretch. Check live traffic information before setting off, and consider delaying your trip or taking an alternative route well away from the motorway.
If you are already caught in the queues, the safest thing to do is stay in your vehicle and switch off your engine while you wait. Traffic held on the carriageway has nowhere to go until lanes begin to reopen, so do not attempt to turn around or leave the motorway on foot. Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front in case traffic starts moving again suddenly, and keep an eye on overhead signs for updates.
How long are delays likely to last?
The crash was first reported at around 2.55pm, and with every lane still stopped several hours later, the disruption has already lasted well over five hours and deep into the evening. A full both-directions stoppage on a Saturday afternoon inevitably creates long tailbacks on both sides, and queues can take a considerable time to clear even after lanes reopen, as held traffic is released only gradually.
There is no confirmed time yet for when the motorway will reopen. We will update the live blog at the top of this page as soon as there is news of lanes reopening or of diversions being put in place.
