M6 reopens after large vehicle fire

But there are one-hour delays and five-mile queues of congestion as a result.

The incident, on the M6 northbound between junction 17, Sandbach, and junction 18, Middlewich, involved an articulated trailer that was ‘well alight’ at around 4am.

This saw the motorway closed in the northbound direction and traffic was diverted as a result.

The fire involved a trailer in a layby and nearby trees were also affected by the flames as well as a wooded area.

Crews tackling the blaze in the early hours of this morning

Police and Highways attended the scene and set up a contraflow system to enable a ‘shuttle’ of fire engines carrying water to get to the area.

Four fire engines were in attendance – two from Crewe, one from Sandbach and one from Holmes Chapel.

Hose reel jets were used at the incident to dampen down the remains of the trailer and wooded area while Highways accessed the road surface for damage.

As of 6.35am, two lanes have now been reopened to traffic and crews are standing by for the recovery of the vehicle.

Normal traffic conditions are expected to resume between 1.30pm and 1.45pm.

There were five-mile queues of congestion