M1 chaos: Drivers face lengthy traffic delays on busy motorway after lorry crash, vehicle fire and spillage

National Highways has closed both carriageways following a collision between two lorries. This was followed by a vehicle fire and spillage, which prompted the full closure.

National Highways also clarified that all emergency services are on the scene dealing with the incident.

Posting on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, it stated: "The northbound carrigeway has been released. Traffic caught within the closure southbound will be released through the scene soon.

"There is still a closure at J20 northbound which traffic officers will be removing under a rolling roadblock shortly."

The transport organisation called on drivers to allow extra journey time if the closure impacts their planned route.

It suggested that motorists may want to re-route or even delay their journey.

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said: "Police were called at 5.27am this morning to a report of a collision involving two lorries on the M1 southbound carriageway near Junction 20.

"The collision subsequently left one vehicle on fire and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service are in attendance. Currently, no injuries have been reported."

Similarly, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service told GB News: "Three vehicles were involved in the collision, two of which were HGVs, and both HGVs are involved in the fire. Leicestershire Police have declared this a major incident. No persons are reported trapped.

"Crews from Lutterworth, Western and Southern Fire Stations are at the scene, and a water carrier from Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service is also in attendance."

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National Highways has also set out diversion routes for motorists to follow while it continues to deal with the accident.

Drivers travelling southbound are advised to follow the hollow square diversion symbol

• Exit the M1 southbound at Junction 21 and take the third exit (south/west) onto the M69
• Continue south/westbound on the M69 for approximately 14.5km to M69 Junction 1/A5 Interchange
• At M69 Junction 1, exit the motorway and take the first exit (left) onto the A5 southbound
• Continue along the A5 southbound for approximately 10.3km to the A5/A4303 Cross in Hand Roundabout
• At the roundabout, take the first exit (left) onto the A4303 eastbound
• Continue eastbound along the A4303, passing through the roundabouts at Magna Park and Coventry Road to the A5/A426 Lutterworth Road/Rugby Road Roundabout
• At the roundabout, take the second exit (straight ahead) and continue eastbound along the A4303 to M1 Junction 20. Then rejoin the M1 southbound.

Drivers travelling northbound are advised to follow the hollow square diversion symbol

• Exit the M1 northbound at Junction 20 and take the first exit (west) onto the A4303
• Continue along the A4303 to the A4303/A426 Lutterworth Road/Rugby Road Roundabout and then take the second exit from the roundabout
• Continue westbound along the A4303, passing through a further two roundabouts at Coventry Road and Magna Park to the A5/A4303 Cross in Hand Roundabout
• Then take the fourth exit from the Roundabout and proceed north along the A5
• Continue northbound along the A5 Watling Street for approximately 10.3km to the A5/M69 Junction 1 Interchange
• At the Interchange, take the fifth exit onto the M69 northbound
• Continue along the M69 northbound for approximately 14.5km to M69 Junction 2/M1 Junction 20 and rejoin the M1 Northbound