Drivers are being warned of lengthy delays following a devastating fire on the M25, which has shut the busy motorway.
The M25 between Junction 30 (Dartford Crossing) and Junction 29 (Romford) is closed in both directions due to an active vehicle fire.
National Highways: East reported that there are delays of at least 60 minutes in the area after an HGV that was fully laden with car tyres burst into flames.
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Essex Fire and Rescue Service are at the scene to extinguish the fire, with smoke being seen along the motorway.
Drivers can expect long delays on the M25 following the fire
|NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
Posting on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, National Highways said a diversion route would be provided in due course.
Traffic maps suggest that normal road conditions will not return until at least 3.15pm later this afternoon.
Similarly, it will take the same amount of time for the event to clear, although this could be extended further.
A spokesperson for Essex Fire and Rescue Service told GB News that it received a call at 12.15pm.
Essex Fire and Rescue Service remain at the scene of the incident
|ESSEX FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE
A plume of smoke from the fire can be seen along the M25
|NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
It sent out two crews from Grays, one from Basildon, and one from Brentwood, while colleagues from the London Fire Brigade and Kent Fire and Rescue Service also attended the scene.
They added: "The lorry is carrying tyres, which are alight and are producing large amounts of smoke.
"The clockwise carriageway is closed and there are long delays on the anticlockwise carriageway. Please avoid the area if you can and take extra care if you are near the scene."
The fire has caused significant delays along the M25, with slow-moving or stationary traffic being seen on either side of the Dartford Crossing.
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Traffic maps show long delays and road chaos as a result of the fire near the Dartford Tunnel
|NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
National Highways added: "Due to the nature of the fire, it is still anticipated that the road will remain closed throughout the day, with resurfacing likely to be required.
"Plans are being put in place to relieve traffic caught within the closure.
"Traffic has temporarily stopped on the clockwise carriageway while fire services continue to work on scene."
Drivers are being urged to avoid the area and plan their routes around the diversion and take into account that delays could last for the coming hours.
Long queues of traffic can be seen between J30 and J29 of the M25
|NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
Road users travelling anti-clockwise are advised to follow the hollow square diversion symbol on road signs
- From M25 Junction 30 exit slip roundabout, take the third exit onto A13 towards Tilbury
- At A128, bear left onto exit slip and then take the first exit at "Orsett
Cock" roundabout onto A128 towards Brentwood - At the "Halfway House" roundabout, take the first exit onto the A127 towards London
- Follow the A127 and take the exit slip towards M25 Junction 29 and then take the third exit at the roundabout to rejoin the M25 towards Stansted
Road users travelling clockwise are advised to follow the hollow triangle diversion symbol on road signs
- Exit the M25 J29 on to the A127
- Exit at the next roundabout and take the fourth exit onto the A128
- Travel on the A128 towards Orsett
- At Orsett Cock roundabout, take the fourth exit onto the A13
- Travel on the A13 westbound and rejoin the M25 at J30