News

South East Kent's storm lashed transport system was in disarray today with road, rail, and sea travel severely disrupted by strong winds and rain.

The gales which at one point reached 99mph in the English Channel caused the closure of the port of Dover, trains were unable to run between Dover and Folkestone because of flooding near to Shakespeare Cliff and trains into Dover were cancelled because of fallen trees on the lines.

The coastbound carriageway of the M20 between junctions 8 and 9 and between 11 and 12 was closed to allow lorries to queue to get into the port of Dover which had to stop operating because of 60mph winds at around 8.30am. A lorry was blown over near to the Court Wood interchange at Capel Le Ferne causing rush hour delays.

At one stage in the morning, Police reported there was only one road in and out of Dover after fallen trees blocked roads and the elevated Jubilee Way was closed.

Channel ferry operators P&O Ferries, NorfolkLine, Speedferries and SeaFrance were all affected at the Port of Dover.