Two lorry fires cause delays on M25

13 hours ago

Alex Pope

Part of the anticlockwise M25 was closed for several hours after two separate lorry fires.

The first happened between junction 27 for the M11 and junction 26 near Waltham Abbey in Essex after emergency services were called at about 03:05 BST on Tuesday.

Two lorries then collided in queuing traffic a short time later between junction 28 for Brentwood and junction 27, causing one of them to catch fire.

After emergency repairs were carried out overnight both sections of the road fully reopened earlier.

News image — Crews from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service were at the scene

National Highways A large fire on a road, showing a lorry in flames and firefighters working to put it out. Fire engines are on the road and you can only just see their lights. — Crews from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service were at the scene

National Highways said the lorry between junctions 27 and 26 was "well alight" when emergency services arrived but had since been put out.

"The lorry shed a significant load across the carriageway, which we expect to take some time to clear," a spokesperson said.

There were heavy delays in the area for most of Tuesday.

Essex Police, who attended, said: "We know this will cause disruption, but this is important work and we'd urge motorists to find alternative routes."

T J Cottis Transport Ltd Lots of burnt and damaged packages on a road. There are lots of bags, mostly paper and plastic. They are piled up beside a lorry. — Burned items from the lorry were left on the road

Jedd Cottis, managing director of disposal firm T J Cottis Transport, said the company sent three vehicles to the motorway after being called early on Tuesday.

The priority was to clear the debris across the carriageway, which he believed were items from a delivery company.

National Highways confirmed that "grab lorries" had been used to remove the fire-damaged "contents from the HGVs".