AN MP has welcomed the decision to lift the toll bars on the Dartford Crossing following a vehicle fire.

Gareth Johnson praised the government’s decision to lift the toll barriers to alleviate traffic queues that had built up following a fire on a lorry trailer on the QEII Bridge at the Dartford Crossing last Friday.

Two lanes of the M25 anticlockwise were closed at the A282 (Dartford Tunnel toll booths) and there was severe congestion up to Junction 4 A21/ A224.

Mr Johnson said: “I welcome this common sense ‘can do’ attitude that the new government has taken.

"This is a fresh approach after thirteen years of gridlock under Labour.

"To my knowledge, this is the first time that the barriers have been lifted in response to traffic congestion.

"When I became the new MP for Dartford, I was determined to bring a new attitude towards the crossing and this decision reflects this fresh approach.”