M1 motorway closed LIVE: Car erupts into fireball as traffic grinds to a halt
A huge car fire has brought traffic to a halt on a major motorway[1] with drivers stuck in six miles of tailbacks. Drivers have been told to expect 45 minute delays after the incident near Junction 15 for Northampton and Milton Keynes where three lanes of the southbound carriageway of the M1 were closed. Lanes one and two are still blocked off while emergency services tackle the fire, which began just after 9.30am.
Shocking pictures show flames ripping through the vehicle as plumes of this grey smoke billow into the air. AA Traffic is reporting stationary traffic, "severe delays" and long queues after the fire which started. The condition of the driver is not known.
Follow updates of the motorway chaos here:
12:33Tim HanlonLane of M1 will remain closed for the rest of the day
Drivers are being warned that a lane of the M1 is to remain closed for the rest of the day between J15 for Northampton and J14 for Milton Keynes while resurfacing work takes place. National Highways has said that a second lane of the motorway has now been reopened and it will be the first which will stay closed for repairs. It also stated that there are no longer significant delays on the motorway following the car fire this morning.
A post from National Highways: East read: "Lane 2 has re-opened is now open on the #M1 southbound between J15 #Northampton & J14 #MiltonKeynes Lane 1 (of 4) will remain closed for the rest of the day with resurfacing taking place overnight tonight. No significant delays remain in the area."
12:03Tim HanlonTraffic chaos this morning with crash on M5 seeing all traffic stopped
All traffic on the M5 southbound was at a complete standstill after a crash this morning. Vehicles were held between Tewkesbury and Cheltenham on the southbound carriageway, with long tailbacks forming.
Roads and traffic monitoring site, Inrix, reported the crash at 6.54am. It said: "All traffic being temporarily held and stationary traffic due to accident on M5 Southbound from J9 A46 (Tewkesbury) to J10 A4019 (Cheltenham).All traffic stopped at around 06:50." The crash is understood to have involved a van and a lorry with the motorway fully reopened after rush hour had ended at around 9.30am.
11:47Tim HanlonFire crews still at the scene with burnt out car on the motorway
A dramatic image showed a fire officer putting out the blaze on the M1 and crews remain at the scene with the car now a burnt out wreck.
The latest information from National Highways is that two lanes of the M1 southbound between J15 for Northampton and J14 for Milton Keynes are still closed. It states on X: "Lane 3 is now open on the #M1 southbound between J15 #Northampton & J14 #MiltonKeynes Lanes 1 and 2 (of 4) remain closed as @Bucksfire continue to monitor the vehicle.
45 minute delays and approx.
6 miles congestion on approach."
11:25Tim HanlonLorry fire caused M1 to be closed and delays for motorists up to an hour
The latest incident follows a lorry fire that brought traffic to a standstill on the M1 northbound in Leicestershire with delays of an hour. The blaze on April 29 happened between Junctions 25 (Stapleford) and 26 (Nottingham), with delays backing up to near East Midlands Airport.
National Highways said following that incident that emergency services were at the scene and there were delays of up to one hour against expected traffic. Drivers were advised to allow extra time for their journeys while the fire service extinguished the vehicle.
11:15Tim HanlonAA tells of stationary traffic and 'severe delays'
AA Traffic is reporting stationary traffic, "severe delays" and long queues after the fire which started. Drivers are being urged to avoid the area if possible with traffic first held at around 9.30am on the southbound carriageway between junction 15 for Northampton and junction 14 for Milton Keynes.
11:10Tim HanlonCondition of the driver involved in the car fire unknown
Drivers have been told that the third lane of the M1 has now been reopened but there are still three lanes closed after the fire.
Emergency services are at the scene but the condition of the occupants of the car is not known. National Highways wrote on X: "Lane 3 is now open on the #M1 southbound between J15 #Northampton & J14 #MiltonKeynes Lanes 1 and 2 (of 4) remain closed as @Bucksfire continue to monitor the vehicle.
45 minute delays and approx.
6 miles congestion on approach."
Fire crews at the scene of the fire (National Highways)11:04Tim Hanlon
Drivers face six mile long queues on the motorway
Motorists have been warned to expect 45 minute delays after the blaze near Junction 15 of the M1 for Northampton and Milton Keynes. Images show flames and black smoke rising into the sky from the car with emergency services having raced to the scene.
10:53Tim HanlonThree lanes of the motorway are closed
National Highways posted on X: "Traffic released on the #M1 south between J15 #Northampton & #MiltonKeynes.
"Lanes 1, 2 and 3 (of 4) remain closed to allow @Bucksfire to work safely at scene.
Our #TrafficOfficers are assisting with traffic management.
45 minute delays and approx.
6 miles congestion on approach."