The section of road was closed while cars were removed

Eight people were taken to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, three of whom are being treated for fractures and a neck injury.

The remaining five were released after treatment and other casualties, described as "walking wounded", were taken to the Memorial Hospital in Sittingbourne.

Reports said the wreckage spread over a two-mile section of the road between Canterbury and Faversham.

Inspector Mark Hayton, who was at the scene, said: "It could have been far worse. We cannot comment at this stage about the cause of the initial accident but this stretch of road is notorious for being hit by fog.

Kevin Rix said: "I just did not want to hit them"

"And a major factor has to be speed, with people travelling too fast and too close for the conditions."

He praised the people involved for helping each other before emergency services arrived.

"It's extremely fortunate that no-one was fatally injured and no-one suffered life-threatening injuries," he said.

"The fact that the carriageway re-opened so quickly - by 1400 GMT - is testimony to how well all the services worked together."

The A2 was closed between Canterbury and Brenley Corner, near Thornton Hill, while cars were cleared from the scene, but had re-opened by 1400 GMT on Thursday.

All I could hear was 'crunch' and it was all smashing up behind us Driver Darren Claringbold

Police said one lane would remain closed while repairs were carried out to the central barrier, which was hit by several cars.

The incident started with a crash on the London-bound carriageway in thick fog just after 0700 GMT on Thursday.

It is thought about 10 further collisions took place after that, with vehicles driving into the back of others in queues caused by the road being closed.

Witnesses also reported that an articulated lorry had crossed the road's central reservation and caught fire.

Police said if the driver of a mobile crane had not managed to swerve onto a verge at the side of the road there could have been more injuries and possibly fatalities.

Man cut from vehicle

Driver Kevin Rix said: "I just did not want to hit them. I could not see myself killing them for the sake of saving the crane."

Motorist Darren Claringbold was one of the people involved in the crash.

He said: "In front of me what I could see was some brake lights going on, so I hit my brakes and I swerved into the central reservation.

"The bloke behind me stopped and checked if I was okay, and from then on all I could hear was 'crunch' and it was all smashing up behind us."

A man had to be cut out of one vehicle and sustained multiple injuries.