Reigate speedboat
Motorists on the M25 were caught in tailbacks after a speedboat collided with a lorry near Reigate, Surrey Highways England

M25 motorists were caught in tailbacks after a lorry collided with a speedboat along the motorway near Reigate in Surrey. The incident happened at about 3.30am near junction 8 of the road causing the boat to jolt precariously off the lorry that was transporting it.

The entry slip road was closed as a result of the collision. One of the lanes remained closed closed until 7.45am while the boat was recovered and lifted using a crane.

Commuters were left jammed in 12 miles of queues reaching all the way back to junction 5 in Kent. Highways England kept drivers up-to-date on the congestion using Twitter and seemed as surprised as drivers were at the cause:

It later reported: "Boat being recovered #M25 J8 c/w entry slip#Surrey. The slip remains closed and lane 1 on main carriageway. No delays.

"We have got the lorry involved in the accident recovered on the #M25 c/w J8 #Surrey. Now we need to get the boat recovered. Delays building." The motorway was fully re-opened at approximately 9am but with long delays expected.

More about M25 travel chaos