Traffic chaos hits West London

Two major traffic incidents caused chaos for commuters trying to return home through west London last night. The Cromwell Road was partially closed for four hours after a 68-year-old man walking home was killed in a collision with a motorcycle.

The incident compounded traffic problems caused when a suspect vehicle was left under a bridge on the A40 Westway.

The all-clear was not given until late afternoon, by which time delays for motorists were made worse by the school run.

A spokesman for AA Roadwatch said: "We have experienced severe delays going out of London on the A40."

Meanwhile hundreds of cross Channel passengers faced long delays after a wildcat strike by French dockers. There were no ferries sailing into Calais last night and P&O Stena kept its fleet of seven vessels at Dover while the 24-hour strike continued.

Freight ferries were diverted to Zeebrugge and car passengers were transferred to the Channel Tunnel.

Kent Police closed a section of the M20 between Folkestone and Hythe to stack freight lorries heading for the Continent through Dover.