LIVE: M6 crash as three lanes shut for hours after lorry overturns - latest updates

Drivers are facing long queues approaching Greater Manchester after a lorry overturned on the M6. Three lanes of traffic are currently closed on the northbound carriageway in Cheshire, between junctions 17 at Sandbach and 18 at Middlewich.

National Highways says there are queues tailing back for more than a mile. The lanes have been closed since at least 4.17am this morning (December 31).

There is ongoing work to clear the load and the lorry from the scene, National Highways says. Traffic is 'very slow' approaching the incident, according to the Inrix traffic monitoring system.

A National Highways north west spokesperson wrote on X: "If you're heading #M6 northbound, please allow extra journey time following an overturned HGV between J17 #Sandbach and J18 #HolmesChapel. The HGV has come to rest on the nearside barrier.

"3 (of 4) lanes closed." Further details about the nature of the collision are yet to be confirmed.

This is a live event. Follow the latest updates below.

A cleanup operation is underway.

If you're heading #M6 northbound, please allow extra journey time following an overturned HGV between J17 #Sandbach and J18 #HolmesChapel

The HGV has come to rest on the nearside barrier.

3 (of 4) lanes closed. pic.twitter.com/1OE4INn25W

National Highways currently expects disruption to continue into this afternoon following the crash.

Traffic is slow moving approaching junction 18.

Drivers are facing queues on the M6 after a lorry overturned earlier this morning.

A recovery operation is underway on the northbound carriageway between junctions 17 at Sandbach and 18 at Middlewich.

Three lanes of traffic have been closed for around four hours, with the work ongoing this morning.

Drivers are being urged to plan ahead for