M6 update after motorway shuts for hours amid huge lorry fire

Firefighters have released a dramatic picture showing colleagues tackling a blaze on a wagon on the M6 last night. The lorry burst into flames on the southbound carriageway between J18 for Middlewich and J17 for Sandbach, forcing the motorway to shut for a time.

Fire crews and police were scrambled to the scene and the southbound carriageway was closed while crews put out the trailer fire. There were no reports of injuries.

Today Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service released an update including a picture of firefighters tackling the lorry fire. They posted on X: "Firefighters extinguished a fire involving a heavy goods vehicle trailer on M6 Southbound between Junctions 18 to 17. The photo shows @MiddlewichFS, who were first on the scene, tackling the blaze."

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Three fire engines from Middlewich, Crewe and Northwich were dispatched to the scene and found an HGV trailer carrying tyres and other good 'well alight'. The carriageway was closed and frefighters tackled the blaze with hose reels.

In an update, the Environment Agency also said on Tuesday morning: "We've been providing advice & guidance to @cheshirefire following a lorry fire on the #M6. The lorry was carrying a mixed load including tractor tyres & batteries. We have been on site to ensure we continue to protect the environment from any #pollution from firewater run off."

Diversions were in place, causing significant delays. By 10pm the fire was said to be under control and the carriageway was opened just before 6am this morning after a near 11-hour closure.