Beer Spill Causes Chaos on M20

10 February 2010, 11:44 | Updated: 10 February 2010, 12:33

The Environment Agency has been cleaning up after a lorry shed its load of cans and bottles of beer on the motorway.

It happened at around 8am on the London bound carriageway of the M20 between Junctions 12 and 13 in Folkestone on Tuesday (9th February).

Most of the cans and bottles broke, spilling the beer onto the road and down the drainage system.

Jan Leslie, spokesman for the Environment Agency, said: “We were on the scene swiftly and, although many people like drinking beer, if it enters streams or rivers it can kill local wildlife.

“We have checked the local streams and there is currently no sign of beer pollution.  However the beer may be held back in the motorway drains and could discharge later.  We will continue to monitor the area and act if any evidence of pollution.” 

Some motorists were stuck in queues for up to five hours while the road was cleared.

No one was injured in the incident.