The initial accident in which four people suffered minor injuries happened at Yarnfield between junctions 14 and 15 on the northbound carriageway at 11.12am on Thursday. The injured were taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire for treatment.

It took several hours to clear up the wreckage which spilled over on to the opposite carriageway.

A later diesel spill on the same stretch of the motorway later in the day also added to the problems which hit Stafford town centre.

Meanwhile, a car ended up almost toppling down an embankment after crashing through a fence and wall and colliding with three other vehicles in a car park at Great Haywood.

The driver of the Peugeot 206 who was in her late 60s was released from the car by an ambulance first responder before firefighters arrived at the car park next to the Spar store just before 3pm yesterday.

It is believed her vehicle collided with another car leaving the car park as she drove in. The woman, who is from Weston, was treated at the scene for minor injuries by paramedics.