Two female car passengers were taken to hospital after a crash on the M20 during the Thursday evening rush-hour.

The accident between a car and a van happened just after 6pm on the coastbound M20 at the bottom of Blue Bell Hill, near Maidstone, between junctions four and five.

Police, fire and paramedic crews attended the scene.

Fire crews from Larkfield and Maidstone used hydraulic cutting equipment to free the women from their vehicle.

Police later said the victims had suffered minor injuries.

Both women were taken to Maidstone Hospital. One had suffered neck and back pain and the other was suffering from back, leg and hip pain.

A witness said: "It looked really bad. I saw someone being worked on by paramedics by the side of the road. If they've escaped with just minor injuries then that's a miracle."

Fire officers left the scene at 7.30pm.