M6 crash: Traffic stopped amid 'four-vehicle smash'

Drivers faced queues on the M6 following a crash 'involving four vehicles' near Wigan.

Traffic was stopped following a smash involving three cars and a van this morning (October 15), according to the Inrix traffic monitoring service.

The incident took place on the northbound carriageway between junctions 26 at the M58 Orrell Interchange and 27 at Standish.

Two lanes were closed before traffic was briefly stopped.

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Motorists faced queues of up to 45 minutes approaching the scene, with traffic tailing back past junction 24 at Ashton-in-Makerfield, on the northbound carriageway.

There were also delays on the southbound side past the crash scene, according to Google traffic data.

An earlier post from Inrix said: "Two lanes blocked and queueing traffic due to accident, three cars and a van involved on M6 Northbound from J26 M58 (Orrell Interchange) to J27 A5209 Crow Orchard Road (Standish). Lanes two and three (of three)."

Motorists were also hit by delays further north, on the M6 southbound near junction 27, following a collision earlier this morning.

Both incidents have since cleared.

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Queues have now eased on the M6.

A lane remains closed following a broken down vehicle, according to Inrix.

Traffic is tailing back towards St Helens on the M6.

This is the latest image from between junctions 23, at the East Lancs Road, and 24 for Ashton-in-Makerfield.

One lane has been closed again near to junction 26 northbound.

It follows a broken down vehicle, according to Inrix.

National Highways says drivers are facing 45-minute queues.