Thousands of drivers are suffering severe delays after a Tesco lorry crashed and burst into flames on one of the UK’s busiest motorways.
National Highways said the clockwise carriageway of the M25 between Junction 5 in Kent and Junction 6 in Surrey is likely to remain closed for the rest of Monday.
This is causing delays of two-and-a-half hours, with congestion stretching for four miles.
Video footage shows the lorry travelling along the M25 when it appears to hit a safety barrier and become engulfed in flames before coming to a standstill.
The crash happened in Surrey between Clacket Lane service station and Junction 6 at around 10pm on Sunday.
The driver sustained minor injuries, according to Surrey Police.
Five fire engines and two water carriers were sent by Surrey Fire and Rescue Service to extinguish the blaze.
**Reminder**
— National Highways: South-East (@HighwaysSEAST) October 21, 2024
The #M25 #Surrey/Kent remains closed clockwise J5 #Sevenoaks - J6 #Godstone following a serious HGV fire.
Lanes 1 and 2 of (3) are now open on the anti-clockwise carriageway.#M26 westbound J2A #WrothamHeath & #M25/A21 remains closed.
https://t.co/3ZGrCD8dKl… pic.twitter.com/XTFpDejMar
Firefighters remained at the scene until around 8.40am on Monday, at which point the lorry was a blackened shell.
National Highways said removing the lorry would involve specialist equipment, and the road is likely to require resurfacing.
A diversion involving A-roads is in place.
The incident has also closed the M26 westbound between Junction 2A and the M25/A21.
Meanwhile, a closure of the northbound east tunnel of the Dartford Crossing between Kent and Essex was also expected to continue throughout Monday, after a maintenance vehicle broke down and caused a large spillage.
This also resulted in the need for emergency resurfacing works.
The #A282 north #DartfordEastTunnel remains closed for emergency resurfacing works. The tunnel will remain closed throughout the day with severe delays on all approaches
— National Highways: South-East (@HighwaysSEAST) October 21, 2024
Please allow extra time for your journey. @Gatwick_Airport @STN_Airport
Please see: https://t.co/3ZGrCD8dKl pic.twitter.com/WOso0WiwuQ
National Highways said there is a “large spillage within the tunnel”, which will “remain closed throughout the day”.
The Government-owned company added that there are “severe delays on all approaches”, with seven miles of queuing traffic.
