Traffic on the M25 is hectic this morning after the motorway was closed both ways last night because of torrential downpours.

The road from J4 Orpington to J5 was shut down at 11.30pm and has only partially reopened in the last hour.

This is because of two sinkholes clockwise caused by weather conditions.

Kent Police say the sinkholes were discovered after a crash between junction 4 and 5.

Diversions were in place via the M20 and M26 and flooding also shut off the A14 westbound between junctions 31 and 28. Traffic is still being diverted along the A428 and A1198.

Live traffic camera show that anticlockwise is in the process of being reopened from J4 and J5, but lane three will remain closed.

You are advised to find alternative routes and to follow diversions while the road defects are fixed.

Drivers are being warned that rush hour traffic will be busier than usual after last night's disruption.

THIS MORNING: Flood warnings in south London as trains struggle to run this morning

We will bring you any traffic updates here.

UPDATES: 

  • Clockwise between J3 and J4 has been held since 6.30am for an unrelated police incident.
  • News Shopper has contacted police for more information. 
  • A Kent Police statement read: "The M25 near Swanley is closed in both directions between junctions 3 and 4 while emergency services are dealing with an incident.
  • "There is considerable congestion in the area and drivers may wish to consider alternative routes."
  • The A2 and A20 are struggling with a build up of traffic. 
  • The M20 and M26 is also affected by traffic and diversions anticlockwise are in place via the A21, A224 and A20 through Swanley, Orpington and Chelsfield.
  • A picture has appeared on social media of a man standing on a bridge, which may be related to the police incident. We will give you official information once we have it.
  • It has now been reopened - full story here: M25 reopened after 'distressed man' spotted on edge of Swanley bridge arrested