Image copyright Empics Image caption The M26 was closed in both directions between junctions three and five

A lorry driver has been arrested following a five-vehicle pile up on the M26 in Kent in which two people died and seven others were injured.

The 45-year-old was held in connection with the crash on the London-bound carriageway near Kemsing at 09:40 BST on Wednesday.

The two people who died were a woman, aged 22, and a 16-year-old girl. Both were French nationals.

Both carriageways were closed for several hours after the crash.

Traffic on the coast-bound carriageway was allowed past the scene during the afternoon when one lane was reopened. It fully reopened at 00:45 BST.

Vehicles on the London-bound carriageway were turned round and redirected on to the M20.

The carriageway was fully reopened to traffic at about 04:00.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service said its crews freed a man, woman and two children from one car and released a man and a woman from a second car.

Six of the injured were taken to the Royal London, St George's and King's College hospitals in London.

The seventh was taken to East Surrey Hospital.

The M26 links the M25 with the M20, joining London by road with the Channel Tunnel at Folkestone and the Port of Dover.