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M6 motorway shut after van fire and diesel spill

Susie RackWest Midlands
News imageGetty Images Aerial night-time view of a large motorway interchange, with multiple elevated roads and looping slip roads crossing over one another. Streetlights illuminate the carriageways, creating bright ribbons of light against the dark surrounding landscape. A small number of vehicles are visible as streaks of white and red lights along the roads. Trees and patches of greenery fill the spaces between the sweeping curves of the junction.Getty Images
The southbound carriageway is shut at junction six for Gravelly Hill Interchange, known as Spaghetti Junction, after a van caught fire

The M6 motorway has been shut in the West Midlands after a van fire and "significant diesel spillage" caused significant delays, National Highways said.

All three lanes were closed on the southbound side of the carriageway between junction six for Gravelly Hill Interchange, known as Spaghetti Junction, and junction five near Castle Bromwich at 16:00 GMT on Saturday.

Emergency services are on the scene with contractors to repair the road surface and recover the vehicle.

Motorists have been advised to follow diversion routes via the A45127 southbound and A47 eastbound to join the motorway after junction five.

News imageCatherine Kovacs Flames and thick black smoke billow from a large vehicle fire beside a motorway, viewed from inside a passing car. Bright orange flames are visible behind the central crash barrier, while a dense plume of dark smoke rises high into the sky. The image appears to be a screenshot from a mobile phone video, with the car dashboard visible in the foreground and trees lining the roadside in the background.Catherine Kovacs
National Highways said a single vehicle was involved and no injuries were reported

A National Highways spokesperson said they were called to the scene at 15:35 GMT and just one vehicle was involved in the incident.

No injuries have been reported.

In an update shortly after 17:00, the organisation said traffic caught within the closure was being released in lane four.

At 18:10, National Highways reported that there were currently long delays of around 60 minutes.

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