LIVE: Section of M6 shut after vegetables strewn across motorway following lorry smash

A stretch of the M6 southbound is closed this morning (Saturday) after a lorry smashed into a bridge, spilling its load of vegetables.

National Highways said a lengthy clear-up and recovery operation is ongoing.

In a tweet at 5.28am, National Highways North-West wrote: “Traffic has been STOPPED on the M6 southbound in Cheshire between J17 (Sandbach) and J16 (Crewe) due to a lorry which has struck a bridge support and spilt its load across all lanes of the carriageway.”

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In an update at 9.11am National Highways North-West said the M6 remains closed with delays of 20 minutes on approach.

The traffic monitoring tool, Inrix says: "M6 Southbound closed due to bridge struck by vehicle and shed load of vegetables between J17 A534 Old Mill Road (Sandbach / Crewe) and J16 A500 (Stoke-On-Trent / Crewe)."

We will have the latest traffic and travel updates in our live blog below...

North West Motorway Police have warned the M6 closure is likley to remain in place for the rest of the morning.

The closure on the #M6 Between J17 - J16 is likely to be in place for the rest of the morning to allow for recovery, clean up & structural engineers to assess the damage to the bridge. pic.twitter.com/FASQNvIFCk

A traffic alert issued by National Highways says normal traffic conditions are expected between 12.45pm and 1pm.

The alert reads: "M6 southbound between J17 (Sandbach / Congleton) and J16 (Crewe). Accident. All lanes are closed. Normal traffic conditions are expected between 12:45 and 13:00 on 6 January 2024."

This is the scene of the RTC on M6 southbound between j17 and j16, lanes 1/2/3 will be remaining closed for some time, we are hopefully