The hole has caused the motorway to be closed in both directions near Sittingbourne in Kent for urgent safety investigations and repairs.

The road was still closed on Wednesday morning while the investigation continued.

The hole on the M2 central reservation between junctions 5 and 6 is approximately 15 feet in depth and approximately 5 metres by 2 metres.

The Highways Agency said: “Cameras have been and will continue to be used to investigate the extent and nature of the hole.

“The site was closely monitored overnight, whilst equipment and materials are being organised and deployed to site ready for our contractors to start work as soon as it is safe to do so.”