Drivers have been warned to expect delays along a major motorway after a vehicle fire caused serious disruptions this morning.
The M6 northbound in Cumbria has been closed between J36 Crooklands Interchange and J39 Shap Interchange due to the incident.
The delay, which was caused by an overturned lorry that had also caught fire, has now prevented access to J37 Killington Interchange (Kendal, Sedbergh A684) and J38 Tebay Interchange (Brough A685; Appleby B6260).
Traffic is now able to rejoin the M6 at J38, although National Highways has put an official diversion route in place that aims to bring traffic back onto J39.
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Normal traffic conditions are expected to return this afternoon at roughly 3pm
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Cumbria Fire & Rescue, Cumbria Police, National Highways Traffic Officers and contractors are currently on the scene.
While work to clear the road gets underway, the agency has urged drivers to follow the diversion, which takes road users off at J36 and urges them to follow the route marked with a hollow diamond symbol on local road signs.
The diversion details how drivers should exit J36, Farleton and take A590 westbound to the Brettargh Holt junction.
From here, they should follow the A591 to Plumgarths Roundabout. Take the third exit, the A5284 to Kendal.
The M6 has been closed northbound between J36 and J39
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Drivers should then follow the A5284 Windermere Road / Stricklandgate and turn left with all traffic onto A6 Sandes Avenue.
Motorists should follow the A6 northbound out of Kendal towards Shap Toll Bar junction, and at Shap Toll Bar junction, turn right onto the B6261 and then turn left at M6 J39, Shap.
National Highways shared on X: "The M6 is closed northbound between J36 KirbyLonsdale and J38 Tebay due to an overturned lorry that had also caught fire.
"2 (of 3) lanes are now closed on the M6 southbound between J38 and J37 for recovery work."
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The agency warned that if the closure impacts the planned route, "please allow extra journey time".
"Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey," the agency added.
Normal traffic conditions are expected to return between 3:30pm and 3:45pm later today.
Map of road closures on the M6
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The M6 motorway spans over 230 miles in length and covers the Midlands, through to the north of the UK, and up into the Scottish border.
The M6 starts at Junction 19 of the M1 at the Catthorpe Interchange, near Rugby, and then routes around Birmingham, Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent and between Liverpool and Manchester.