LIVE M60 blocked after Asda lorry catches fire - traffic updates

The M60 is blocked this afternoon after a lorry caught fire. Photos showed huge plumes of smoke and flames coming from the Asda delivery lorry, which was ablaze on the anti-clockwise carriageway.

The motorway is currently blocked with delays in the area after the incident at around 2.45pm. Thankfully nobody was injured in the blaze, Asda confirmed.

There are an hour delays, travel services have said, with severe delays in the region. Motorists are being warned to avoid the area.

National Highways have tweeted: "The #M60 in #GreaterManchester is blocked anti-clockwise within J3 due to a vehicle fire. Police and Fire & Rescue are currently in attendance. We'll get you released shortly. Thanks for your patience."

At 4.30pm, travel service Inrix says: "Severe delays and two lanes closed due to recovery work and earlier lorry fire on M60 anticlockwise at J3 A34 Kingsway.

"Congestion to just past J5 (Princess Parkway), also causing delays on the M56 to J5 (Manchester Airport) as well as the A34 from both sides approaching the junction. Travel time is around 60 minutes."

This is a live incident. Follow below for updates.

This picture was taken by M.E.N reader Jason Hoather who passed the lorry shortly after it caught fire, the posted the image to our Facebook page.

Thankfully the fire is now out and no one has been injured. However there remains long delays this rush hour with two lanes closed as the vehicle is recovered

There is now traffic building on several surrounding roads, most notably Princess Road/Princess Parkway.

Inrix says: Traffic heavier than normal due to traffic diverting from earlier blocked road on the M60 on A5103 Princess Road in both directions at A5145. Delays also due to Friday traffic."

Drivers