Overnight closures will cause 18-mile diversions on the M6 through the Black Country tonight as holidaymakers try to get away.

The southbound stretch between junction 11 at Cannock and junction seven at Great Barr will shut at 10pm until 8am tomorrow.

It will close again at 8pm tomorrow and re-open at 10am Sunday.

The work is part of the £150 million scheme to open up the hard shoulder to traffic.

The Highways Agency says it will consider delaying the roadworks if the motorway remains congested late tonight. It will also re-open the motorway early if the work finishes early.

But councillors and business leaders have criticised  the closure. Schools have now all broken up for the summer and this weekend is expected to see a mass exodus of families going on holiday.

Drivers will be sent along the A449 through Wolverhampton, back onto the A454 Willenhall Road through Walsall and onto the A34 and along the Birmingham Road before rejoining the motorway.

Some of the busiest roads are likely to be the A5, M54 and M5.

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