M6 traffic LIVE: Motorway blocked after lorry loses fuel tank

A motorway has been blocked after a lorry lost its fuel tank. Several lanes have been closed on the M6 in Cheshire.

National Highways have blocked the the M6 southbound between junction 16 and 17, according to North West Motorway Police. In a post on X, the authority said that National Highways is hoping to open one lane past the scene where an HGV has lost its fuel tank.

According to National Highways, there are currently delays of 30 minutes. The spillage is expected to be cleared by around 1.4m.

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According to traffic monitoring service INRIX, three lanes are currently closed and traffic is queueing due to the spillage from the load. The stretch of the M6 affected is between junction 17 A534 Old Mill Road (Sandbach / Crewe) and J16 A500 (Stoke-On-Trent / Crewe).

In a post on X, North West Motorway Police said: "National Highways currently have a full block on M6 Southbound J17 to 16 where an HGV has lost it's fuel tank. Fuel across the carriageway.

"Highways are going to look at hopefully opening one lane past the scene. We will keep you updated."

Follow our live blog below for the latest updates as we get them.

There is approximately five miles of congestion leading up to the scene of the fuel spill on the M6, National Highways has said. The highways authority has confirmed that three of the four lanes southbound between junctions 16 and 17 are closed.

Specialist clean up crews are en route to the scene, according to National Highways. Here's the latest update.

The #M6 southbound between J17 (#Sandbach) and J16 (#Stoke), 3 lanes (of 4) are closed following a fuel spillage.

Specialist clean up crews are en route to scene.

There is approx. 5 miles