Commuters, school children and businesses faced travel chaos in Tolworth Broadway this morning after a heavy goods vehicle broke down and forced a temporary police closure of the busy thoroughfare.

The lorry broke down late on Monday night and was still causing severe delays on A240 northbound, which runs through the centre of Tolworth, as police attempted to remove the vehicle on Tuesday morning.

Transport for London reported that up to nine bus routes including the 85, 265, 281, 406, 418, 662, 665, 965 and K1 had been diverted northbound "due to a broken down vehicle blocking Tolworth Broadway KT6."

However, by 10am, TfL said that all the affected the routes had been restored following the police operation.

Long queues lasting over an hour were reported by local travel services, with tailbacks stretching onto the A3 northbound and as far South as Ewell, before the police were able to reopen Tolworth Broadway just before 10am.