As long as five double-deckers - the biggest lorry ever enters Dartford Tunnel

A 135-foot lorry has become the longest ever vehicle to use the Dartford Tunnel into Essex.

It was transporting a 41 metre footbridge - nearly the length of five double-decker buses - to Southend-on-Sea.

Highways England says a carefully planned operation last month involving them along with Essex Police and Dartford Crossing operators Connect Plus Services meant that traffic at the busy crossing needed to be held for only three minutes.

The Dartford crossing across the River Thames between Essex and Kent links two ends of the M25.

It consists of a bridge taking traffic southbound and two tunnels coming north.