M25 traffic: Drivers face 'significant delays' after HGV spills 250 litres of fuel across busy motorway

An earlier accident saw a heavy goods vehicle break down and spill around 250 litres of fuel across all three lanes of the major motorway.

The HGV has since been recovered, and a pavement engineer has been on the scene to confirm resurfacing is required for all three lanes.

National Highways warned that it is likely to be a "protracted job" and the closure will remain in place "until at least this afternoon".

The transport organisation warned that this would cause "significant delays" with many people returning from holiday after the Easter bank holiday weekend.

It added: "We advise road users to plan ahead accordingly. 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."

Traffic maps show 30 minutes of delays against expected traffic, although this could be extended as the resurfacing works are completed.

Delays on the M25 have now affected traffic on adjoining roads, including standstill traffic on the A21 northbound between the junctions with the A225 and the A25 West.

Drivers are currently facing around 15 minutes of delays, although normal traffic conditions are expected to return shortly.

National Highways has outlined a diversion route for impacted motorists near the scene to avoid the growing delays this morning.

Road users are advised to follow the hollow square diversion symbol on road signs

• Exit the M25 at Junction 5 and join the A21 towards Sevenoaks
• On the A21, take the 1st exit onto the A25 towards Riverhead
• At the roundabout at Riverhead, take the 1st exit to remain on the A25
• At the next roundabout, take the 1st exit onto the A224 towards Bromley
• Continue on the A224 across the M26 and M25, and at the Morants Court Cross roundabout, take the 3rd exit and stay on the A224 towards Bromley
• Follow the A224 to the Hewitts roundabout and take the 5th exit to to join the M25 link to J4
• At the J4 roundabout, take the 1st exit to rejoin the M25

The National Highways: South-East team dealt with another fuel spillage this morning prior to the incident on the M25.

Posting on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, it warned that the A20 westbound was closed between A256 (Dover) and the B2011 due to an oil spill.

It stated that a full resurface is required, and that service providers were working on the scene.

However, it stated that there was no estimated time for when the road would be reopened, potentially causing havoc for motorists travelling from the Port of Dover and Le Shuttle.