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Motorists trapped in lengthy tailbacks jumped out their cars and began playing football on the parallel carriageway while police dealt with a serious incident further up the road.

Others laid out flat on the tarmac to sunbathe in the sweltering July heat in the bizarre scenes on the M20 this afternoon.

Huge queues formed after police shut both carriageways between junctions seven and eight, near Maidstone in Kent.

Bewildered motorists used Twitter to share comments, pictures and video of people trying to take advantage of absent traffic.

A spokeswoman for Kent Police said: "Kent Police was called at 5.52pm on Sunday July 17 to reports of concern for the welfare of a man on a bridge near Hockers Lane.

"Officers attended and as a precaution both carriageways on the M20 between J7 and J8, as well as Hockers Lane were closed.

"The man was detained by officers and given to health professionals. The roads have now been re-opened."