A tunnel at the Dartford Crossing which was closed for 17 hours following a four-lorry crash and diesel spillage has now reopened. 

The west bore tunnel shut at 12.30pm yesterday after the incident involving four HGVs, which saw the tolls closed north bound to ease congestion.

Traffic at its worst stretched 10 miles back to Junction 4 of the M25 at Orpington. 

News Shopper:

Chaos at the Darenth Interchange yesterday (image by @NPAS_Redhill on Twitter).

The Highways Agency announced at 5.30am this morning that the tunnel is now open after traffic officers worked through the night to clear the carriegeway of fuel and resurface a 70m stretch of road which was covered in diesel.

Congestion got so bad that at 4.30pm the decision was taken to close the tolls northbound.

One motorist told News Shopper drivers stuck at the toll booths were getting out of their cars due to the heat and are enjoying picnics on the side of the road.

Were you caught up in the congestion yesterday? Send us your thoughts and pictures to tim.macfarlan@london.newsquest.co.uk or Tweet @NewsShopperTim