M25 delays: Runaway horse shot by Essex Police after causing nine hours of delays and 14-mile tailbacks near Dartford Crossing

Delays: The runaway horses have led to huge disruption
PA
Mark Chandler5 August 2016

Two runaway horses caused traffic chaos on the M25 today, leading to more than nine hours of disruption and 14-mile tailbacks.

One of the horses was shot by firearms officers after it evaded capture and blundered back on to the motorway.

Essex Police were initially called at 6am after reports the animals were running loose at Thurrock Motorway Services in Grays.

Officers managed to shut the sliproad at junction 30 so they could herd the horses off the highway.

However, one of the animals broke loose before a vet could be called in to sedate it.

It ran on to the motorway, causing havoc and leading to the road being closed at 1.20pm near junction 30.

Although the road was reopened at 2.15pm, there are still huge delays reported on the motorway.

On the M25 clockwise towards the QE II bridge at the Dartford Crossing, there is approximately 14 miles of slow moving traffic, back towards junction 27.

Anti-clockwise, there are tailbacks of around nine miles.

A spokesman for the Highways Agency said: “Motorists should allow plenty of extra time for their journey and consider alternative routes where possible.”

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