Lorry bursts into flames on UK motorway causing traffic carnage

20 November 2023 , 10:58

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A traffic jam on the M6 motorway (Image: James Maloney/Lancs Live)

A lorry fire on the M6 motorway has lead to travel chaos.

Highways officials have shut off the M6 in both directions as firefighters tackle a blaze. Emergency services have been called out to the fire between Junction 14 and Junction 15. A video shared on Twitter shows a snaking row of traffic as thick plumes of black smoke billow into the air from a smoking lorry chassis.

And as a result both the northbound and southbound carriageways have been brought to a stop. National Highways says there are currently delays of around an hour due to the incident.

In its latest update the authority said: "Traffic remains stopped on the M6 in both directions between Junction 14 Stafford and Junction 15 Stoke-on-Trent due to a vehicle fire. Fire service remain on scene to extinguish fire. Delays of 60 mins in both directions."

Traffic monitoring system Inrix issued an alert at around 9.55am and say the blaze involves a truck, reports Stoke on Trent Live.

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In a tweet, BBC Radio Stoke said: "M6 is closed both directions between J15 for Stafford North and Stafford Services due to a lorry fire."

Just after 11am, National Highways said that the road was open again southbound. A statement read: "The M6 northbound between J14 Stafford and J15 Stoke-on-Trent remains closed due to a vehicle fire. Traffic has been released on the southbound carriageway. Delays of 60 mins in both directions."

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Ryan Fahey