M6 closure in Midlands recap

LIVEUpdated 3 hours ago

Traffic has been stopped in both directions on the M6 due to a police incident - and that closure has now been extended due to further issue on A road

Traffic is nose-to-tail on the M6 southbound north of Stafford due to a 'police-led incident'(Image: Highways England )

Updated 21:00, 01 Jun 2026

The M6 through the Midlands has been reopened after being closed in both directions due to a 'police-led incident'.

The motorway had been shut both northbound and southbound in Staffordshire between junctions 14, for Stafford and Stone, and 15, for Stoke/Newcastle-under-Lyme from shortly before 6pm on Monday (June 1).

And that closure was extended to Junction 16, the turn off for Crewe and Nantwich, following a further incident on the A500.

But that closure has now been lifted shortly before 8.40pm, with the road now reopened in both directions.

The incident had began just before 6pm and is said to have involved a pedestrian.

The road remained closed, for approaching two-and-a-half hours.

Vehicles were being diverted off the motorway between Junctions 14 and 16 but can now continue their usual route.

Residual delayus of around 30 minutes remain but will soon reduce.

Delays on the M6 in Staffordshire due to a 'police-led incident'(Image: Highways England )

National Highways West Midlands earlier posted: "Traffic is stopped in both directions on the M6 in Staffordshire between J14 #Creswell and J15 "Hanchurch due to a police led incident.

"Police are on scene dealing.

"There are currently 15-minute delays on the approach."

The tailbacks were reported to be 40 minutes - but are now easing

New Updates

1st Jun21:00 BST

End of live updates

Thanks for following our blog on the M6 closure in Staffordshire this evening.

The road has now fully reopened but residual delays of around 30 minutes and tailbacks of three miles remain but will rapidly clear.

For the latest traffic and travel visit:

Nick Horner[2]

1st Jun20:35 BST

M6 reopened but delays remain

The M6 has now reopened after the earlier police led incident.

National Highways said: "The M6 in Staffordshire is now open in both directions between J14 Creswell and J15 Hanchurch following a police led incident.

"There are currently 30-minute delays on the approach."

Content cannot be displayed without consentNick Horner[3]

1st Jun20:28 BST

New southbound M6 diversion route

Traffic is now being taken off the M6 at Junction 16 for Crewe and Nantwich, not Junction 15.

National Highways said: "Southbound traffic is advised to follow the hollow square diversion symbol on road signs:

• Leave the M6 at J16.
• Take the 1st exit off the roundabout.
• Follow the A500 Queensway eastbound.
• At the Hanford Roundabout follow the hollow triangle symbol, take the 1st exit on to the A34 southbound.
• Remain on the A34 southbound to Stafford.
• At the roundabout with the A513 take the third exit to remain on the A34.
• Continue on the A34 to the Creswell Interchange (J14 of the M6).
• Take the second exit from the roundabout to re-join the M6 southbound.

"If you are travelling from further afield you may wish to use the M1 and the A50.....

"If this closure impacts on your planned route, please allow extra journey time. Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey. "

Nick Horner[4]

1st Jun20:26 BST

New northbound M6 diversion

National Highways has revised its northbound diversion route for traffic leaving the motorway at Junction 14, for Stafford.

It said: "Northbound traffic is advised to follow the hollow triangle diversion symbol on road signs:

• At the M6 J14, take the exit to the A34 northbound
• Continue along the A34 northbound to its junction with the A500 at Hanford.
• At Hanford follow the holow diamond symbol
• Take the exit to the A500 eastbound and continue to the M6 J16 roundabout.
• Rejoin the M6 northbound at J16. "

Nick Horner[5]

1st Jun20:25 BST

New diversions in place as M6 closure extended

A spokesperson for National Highways said: "The M6 in Staffordshire was closed in both directions between J14 (Stafford) and J15 (Stoke on Trent) for a police led incident

"Due to an incident on the A500 the road has now been closed between J14 and J16

"Staffordshire police are leading the response at this stage

"Traffic Officers are on scene and assisting with strategic closures on the approach."

Nick Horner[6]

1st Jun20:19 BST

Motorway closure extended due to further incident

National Highways has now confirmed the M6 motorway is now closed between Junctions 14 and 16 now.

The first closure was in place between Junctions 14 and 15, in both directions, due to a 'police-led incident'.

But that now goes right upto Junction 16, the Nantwich and Crewe turn off.

That is due to a further incident on the A500 - which leads from Junction 15 into Stoke.

Nick Horner[7]

1st Jun19:52 BST

Delays hit 40 minutes as M6 remains closed

The M6 has been closed for almost two hours now between Junction 14 for Stafford and Junction 15 for Stoke-on-Trent - in both directions.

This is due to a police-led incident - the details of which have not been confirmed.

Those delays are now hitting 40 minutes as traffic in both carriageways is being led off the motorway to use mainly the A34 to get between the junctions.

Content cannot be displayed without consentNick Horner[8]

1st Jun19:43 BST

Traffic backing up to motorway services southbound

Google's traffic map shows delays are building on the M6 southbound with traffic now tailing back to Keele Services from Junction 15.

There is slow-moving traffic all the way from the services to the Junction 15 exit as the large volume of vehicles is being led off the major road.

Nick Horner[9]

1st Jun19:34 BST

Traffic being funnelled off M6 at Junction 14

This is the scene at Junction 14 of the M6 with traffic being led off the motorway by police.

It is then being sent on the A34 north of Stafford towards Stoke to rejoin the motorway at Junction 15.

Nick Horner[10]

1st Jun19:31 BST

Heavy traffic on the approach to Junction 14

Snarl up on the approach to Junction 14 of the M6 with the motorway shut due to a police-led incident(Image: Highways England )

Nick Horner[11]

1st Jun19:25 BST

Heavy traffic building on M6 northbound

The tailback on the M6 northbound shows slow-moving traffic stretching halfway to Junction 13.

There is also heavy traffic on the A34 as vehicles are being led off at Stafford to take that road towards Stoke, to get back on the M6 at Junction 15.

Google's traffic map shows thick red lines on the M6 northbound and also on the A34 near Stafford as all vehicles are being taken off the closed motorway(Image: Google)

Nick Horner[12]

1st Jun19:20 BST

Traffic building up by Junction 15 of M6

Google Traffic maps give an indication of the heavy traffic building on the M6 at Junction 15 for Stoke.

It shows a thick red line of slow-moving traffc on the motorway with that also spilling onto local roads.

A view of the traffic building on the M6 southbound at Junction 15(Image: Google )

Nick Horner[13]

1st Jun19:10 BST

Queues of traffic on the M6 northbound

This is the scene on the approach to Junction 14 of the M6 northbound, where traffic is being led off the motorway on a diversion route.

Drivers are being asked to leave the road and follow local roads before rejoining the M6 at Junction 15.

Traffic is being taken off the motorway northbound at Junction 14, with vehicles queuing to exit the motorway(Image: Highways England )

Nick Horner[14]

1st Jun19:05 BST

Traffic map shows extent of motorway closure

Google's traffic map shows the extent of the closure on the M6 between Stafford and Stoke.

Red lines show traffic building up at either end as it is diverted off the motorway onto local roads to follow diversion routes.

Google's traffic map shows the extent of the closure with a large section of the M6 closed in both directions between Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent(Image: Google )

Nick Horner[15]

1st Jun19:00 BST

Eerie scene on M6 with the road empty

A very rare image of the M6 for a Monday teatime with the motorway completely empty between junctions 14 and 15 with traffic being led off the road.

This is due to a 'police-led incident' which began at shortly before 6pm on Monday (June 1).

A National Highways camera shows the M6 motorway completely empty between Junctions 14 and 15 due to a 'police-led incident'(Image: National Highways )

Nick Horner[16]

1st Jun18:56 BST

Southbound diversion route on M6

All the traffic heading towards Birmingham and the Black Country is being taken off the M6 at Junction 15 - the Stoke turn-off.

National Highways said: "Southbound traffic is advised to follow the hollow triangle diversion symbol on road signs:

• Leave the M6 at J15.
• At the Hanchurch Roundabout take the second exit.
• Follow the A500 Queensway eastbound.
• Bear left and exit at the Hanford Interchange with the A34.
• At the Hanford Roundabout take the third exit on to the A34 southbound.
• Remain on the A34 southbound to Stafford.
• At the roundabout with the A513 take the third exit to remain on the A34.
• Continue on the A34 to the Creswell Interchange (J14 of the M6).
• Take the second exit from the roundabout to re-join the M6 southbound.

"If you are travelling from further afield you may wish to use the M1 and the A50.

"If this closure impacts on your planned route, please allow extra journey time.

Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey."

Nick Horner[17]

1st Jun18:54 BST

Northbound diversion route on the M6

Traffic heading north on the M6 is being taken off the motorway at Junction 14.

The diversion route is as follows: "Northbound traffic is advised to follow the hollow triangle diversion symbol on road signs:

• At the M6 J14, take the exit to the A34 northbound.
• Continue along the A34 northbound to its junction with the A500 at Hanford.
• Take the exit to the A500 westbound and continue to the M6 J15 roundabout.
• Rejoin the M6 northbound at J15."

Nick Horner[18]

1st Jun18:52 BST

Traffic diversions in place on M6

National Highways has confirmed the M6 in Staffordshire has been completely closed in both directions due to the police incident.

It said: "The M6 in Staffordshire is closed in both directions between J14 (Stafford) and J15 (Stoke on Trent) for a police led incident

"Staffordshire police are leading the response at this stage

"Traffic Officers are on scene and assisting with strategic closures on the approach."

Nick Horner[19]Follow Birmingham Live:

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References

1. ^ Missing Midland schoolgirl could be with wanted man facing prison recall (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
2. ^ Nick Horner (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
3. ^ Nick Horner (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
4. ^ Nick Horner (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
5. ^ Nick Horner (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
6. ^ Nick Horner (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
7. ^ Nick Horner (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
8. ^ Nick Horner (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
9. ^ Nick Horner (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
10. ^ Nick Horner (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
11. ^ Nick Horner (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
12. ^ Nick Horner (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
13. ^ Nick Horner (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
14. ^ Nick Horner (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
15. ^ Nick Horner (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
16. ^ Nick Horner (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
17. ^ Nick Horner (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
18. ^ Nick Horner (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
19. ^ Nick Horner (www.birminghammail.co.uk)